Who's #1 in Legislative Leadership?

by Karl Kurtz

The ever-popular question of who the longest-serving legislative leader is has come up again.  Since the last time we wrote about this in 2006, the rankings have changed and, as always, the answer depends on the exact wording of the question.

Illinois Speaker Mike Madigan (left) has the longest tenure of any presiding officer.  First elected speaker in 1983, he is now in his 21st year as speaker with a two-year hiatus in 1995-96 when he served as minority leader. 

Because of that loss of majority status, Madigan does not have the longest consecutive service.  That honor belongs to Maryland Senate President Mike Miller (right, with friend), who was first elected in 1987.  Miller is the longest serving top senate leader, consecutive or otherwise.

Comments

[rich miller]

Madigan was first elected speaker in 1983.