Democratic State Senator Kwame Raoul of Chicago defeated Urbana lawyer Erika Harold in the race for Illinois Attorney General.

As we get ready to welcome 2018, let's take time to review another wild year in Illinois government and politics. We heard state Senators trying to craft a “grand bargain” to end the budget impasse — and 16 Republicans breaking with the governor to do just that. It was also the start of campaign season, and a time of increasing anger by and about politicians. Here now are some of the voices that made news in 2017.