By Sean Crawford, IL Public Radio
Southwestern Illinois lawmaker Vince Demuzio died Tuesday after a battle with colon cancer.
The longtime state Senator entered the General Assembly 29 years ago. His district stretched from his hometown in Carlinville to the Mississippi River in Pike, Calhoun, and Jersey Counties.
Demuzio bucked Democratic Party leadership early in his career and wound up one of its elder statesman.
Illinois Public Radio's Sean Crawford prepared this report.