Christine Radogno went from serving on the LaGrange Village Board to the Illinois State Senate in 1997, being elected as a Republican. By the mid-2000s Radogno was in a leadership position in the Republican caucus, and in early 2009 she took over as Senate Minority Leader. During the Gov. Bruce Rauner administration the state went for over two years without a budget. Frustrated by the lack of a budget, in early 2017 Radogno worked with Senate President John Cullerton to craft a 'Grand Bargain' state budget. When that effort fell apart in June 2017 she resigned from the IL Senate.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
We Drew You a District
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Early life thru years on LaGrange County Board & election to IL Senate
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
IL Senate from 1997 through 2006, including Edgar, Ryan & Blagojevich
Interview Session 03 (Audio)
Blagojevich administration & experiences with IL Senator Barack Obama
Interview Session 04 (Audio)
Blagojevich impeachment and Gov. Quinn administration thru 2012
Interview Session 05 (Audio)
Quinn administration in 2013-2014 and elections of 2014
Interview Session 06 (Audio)
Budget crisis during the Gov. Rauner administration and Grand Bargain
Photos
Caption:
Radogno worked as a waitress at Knotty Pine in LaGrange when this photo was taken, circa 1971.
Where:
LaGrange, Illinois
When:
Circa 1971
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Senator Christine Radogno’s official photo from 2013.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Circa 2013
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, Attorney Heather Wier Vaught, Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno and House Minority Leader Jim Durkin testified in the House on Senate Bill 1 (pension reform) in 2013.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Circa 2014
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Senator Christine Radogno took the podium in 2014 for a Republican press conference in 2014. Behind her are Senator Rose, Murphy and McConnaughay.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Circa 2014
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Republican senators gathered for a late night end of session photo in 2014. From left to right are Jason Barickman, Mike Connley, Darin LaHood, Christine Radogno, Sue Rezin, Chris Nybo and Dave Syverson.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Circa 2014
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Senator Radogno and grandchildren, twins Reese & Sloane, Knox and husband Nunzio visited the Senator’s capitol office at in the summer of 2014
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Circa 2014
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Senator Radogno at an Executive committee testimony in 2016 with a witness.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Circa 2016
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Christine Rodgono and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk in 2016. Radogno’s daughter Lisa served as an executive assistant for Kirk in the early 2010s.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Circa 2016
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Senator Radogno’s grandson Knox visited the Capitol in February 2016.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2016
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Grandson Knox was introduced on Senate floor in February 2016. Patrick Barry is seen behind the Senator.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2016
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Radogno’s grandson Knox with John Cullerton in February 2016.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2016
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Christine’s grandson Knox got to meet Governor Bruce Rauner during his visit to the IL State Capitol in February 2016.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2016
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Senator Radogno took this selfie with President Obama when the President visited his former colleagues on February 10, 2016. Don Harmon in background.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2016
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption:
Senator Radogno makes her way up the staircase with granddaughter Addie, who was visiting the Capitol in the summer of 2016.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2016
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Christine’s granddaughter Addie piers up at the capitol dome during her visit in the summer of 2016
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2016
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
The Illinois State capitol dome as seen from the floor of the capitol in 2016.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2016
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
An Illinois Policy Institute cartoon from 2017. The organization opposed the Grand Bargain on which Radogno was working with Democratic colleague John Cullerton in an attempt to break the two-year logjam which resulted in no state budget
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Circa 1928 or 1929
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption:
House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, Senator Radogno and Governor Rauner stand before a sea of cameras and reporters during a press conference in the Governor’s office in 2017.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2017
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Rich Miller, the journalist and author of the highly regarded Capitol Fax, shared a moment with Senator Radogno on June 30, 2017.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2017
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
House Minority Leader Jim Durkin and Senate Minority Leader Radogno met at the Springfield restaurant Saputos on June 30, 2017 after she announced her retirement effective July 1st.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2017
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Attorney General Kwame Raoul gave Christine Radogno a hug immediately after she announced her retirement on June 30, 2017. The gesture illustrated the esteem that Democrats had for the Senator.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2017
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Senators John Cullerton and Christine Radogno shared the podium and a lighter moment on June 29, 2017 as Radogno approached her retirement.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2017
Ownership:
State Journal Register photo. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.