House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch’s wife among clout-heavy winners in primary judge races

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and his wife ShawnTe Raines-Welch, who won her Democratic primary race Tuesday for a Cook County judicial seat from a suburban district. (Instagram)

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch came out of Tuesday’s Democratic primary a winner — and not only because he faced no challenger in his legislative race.

Flexing his newfound political muscle since succeeding Michael Madigan as House speaker, Welch also helped his wife, attorney ShawnTe Raines-Welch, win her Democratic primary contest for a seat as a Cook County judge from a suburban district.