State Senator Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) has resigned from the General Assembly after representing the 5th district since 1992. Hendon, who is nicknamed "Hollywood," has been a vocal member of the upper chamber.

Before the November elections, he was criticized for calling GOP gubernatorial nominee Bill Brady racist and homophobic. Shortly after making those comments, news broke that grant programs sponsored by Hendon had been subpoenaed. Hendon said the investigation had nothing to do with his resignation.