By AP/IL Public Radio/KWMU
Springfield, IL – Illinois House Republicans picked representative Tom Cross as their new leader last night. Cross replaces Lee Daniels', who stepped down from the post.
Cross is preaching a message of change for the Republicans who lost seats to House Democrats in Illinois in this month's election. For one, Cross says he's giving rank-and-file members more authority in selecting members of their leadership team.
Quincy Representative Art Tenhouse also made a bid for the post, and now say he won't take any leadership role in the upcoming session.
Tenhouse says the vote was largely based on regionalism with those from downstate supporting him and those from Northern Illinois supporting Cross.
Daniels announced he would stepped down earlier this year after a federal probe was launched to investigate whether Daniels' legislative staff worked campaigns on state time.