Michael McAuliffe, Chicago's only Republican state rep, resigns

Rep. Michael McAuliffe, the only Chicago Republican serving in the Illinois House of Representatives, on Monday announced his resignation after 23 years in office.

It's the end of an era for the McAuliffe family: Michael McAuliffe succeeded his father, Roger McAullife, after his death in 1996. Between the two, a McAuliffe has represented the Northwest Side district for 46 years.

In a statement, Michael McAuliffe said the decision "did not come easy."

In 2016, the Chicago Republican's race was one of the most closely watched legislative races in the state, with both candidates raking in more than $2 million. McAuliffe wound up taking 54% of the vote to 44% for his Democratic challenger Merry Marwig.

• See the full report at chicago.suntimes.com.