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Illinois' 14th Congressional District election, 2020 (March 17 Republican primary)

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Illinois' 14th Congressional District
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: December 2, 2019
Primary: March 17, 2020
General: November 3, 2020
Pre-election incumbent:
Lauren Underwood (Democratic)
How to vote
Poll times: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting in Illinois
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Likely Democratic
Inside Elections: Solid Democratic
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Likely Democratic
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2020
See also
Illinois' 14th Congressional District
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Illinois elections, 2020
U.S. Congress elections, 2020
U.S. Senate elections, 2020
U.S. House elections, 2020

Jim Oberweis won the Republican primary for Illinois' 14th Congressional District on March 17, 2020, defeating six other candidates. Oberweis received 25.6% of the vote, followed by Sue Rezin with 22.8%, Catalina Lauf with 20.1%, Ted Gradel with 13.3%, and James Marter with 11%. Jerry Evans and Anthony Catella also ran in the primary. Oberweis advanced to the district's general election on November 3, 2020.

Gradel, Oberweis and Rezin led in fundraising and media activity with the latter two candidates also receiving the majority of endorsements.

The candidates focused on platforms and who would stand the best chance in the general election.

Gradel, a former kicker for the University of Notre Dame, described himself as a businessman and political outsider.[1] He said he supported congressional term limits, saying, "Our founders envisioned citizen legislators, not Springfield and Washington politicians serving forever and collecting a pension."[2] Gradel said he would cut taxes for Illinoisians. At the federal level, he discussed making permanent the tax cuts from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. At the state level, he said he wanted to repeal a recent gas tax increase and freeze property taxes.[3]

Oberweis had been a state senator representing the 25th District since 2012. He described himself as an experienced businessman who had founded Oberweis Asset Management and began operating his family's company, Oberweis Dairy, in 1986.[4][5] Regarding electability, Oberweis said, "I'm the only candidate with the experience and resources to beat Lauren Underwood."[6] On healthcare, Oberweis released an ad saying he would protect patients with pre-existing conditions and lower drug costs.[7]

Rezin had been a state senator representing the 38th District since 2010. Rezin said that she had won all of her five elections and said, "each time she earned the Republican Party's nomination she went on to defeat a tough Democrat opponent."[8] She said she covered issues like "protections for people with preexisting health conditions, health care, education, veterans, ethics, energy, and flood prevention and mitigation."[9] In an ad regarding immigration, Rezin said she supported strong border security, opposed sanctuary cities, and would support the president on legal immigration.[10]

Candidates criticized one another on the topics of electoral history, residency, and business activity. Gradel associated both Rezin and Oberweis with House Speaker Mike Madigan (D) and Governor J.B. Pritzker (D), and said neither of the two candidates supported the president.[11][12] Oberweis and Rezin both criticized Gradel for his prior association as an investor in U.S. Stem Cell LLC.[13][14] Oberweis called Rezin a carpetbagger because, as of the time of the election, she lived in Morris, Ill., located four miles south of the 14th Congressional District.[15] In an ad, Rezin said "Jim Oberweis lost six elections already. He's unelectable."[16]

Satellite spending in the race began to rise in January. Three groups—Illinois Conservatives PAC, Our Future, Our Fight PAC, and the New Prosperity Foundation—spent a combined $1,145,471.17 opposing candidates.[17] Of that total, $1,076,999.35 had been spent opposing Oberweis, or roughly 94% of all oppositional satellite spending. Of the remainder, $2,490.39 was spent opposing Gradel, $23,500 opposing Lauf, and $42,481.43 opposing Rezin. The only satellite spending in support of a candidate was $7,471.17 in support of Lauf. Illinois Conservatives PAC filed its statement of organization on March 3, 2020.[18] The group released an ad opposing Oberweis on March 9.[19] From 2019-2020, Thomas Mazza of Wheaton, Ill. funded the New Prosperity Fund with three donations totalling $200,000.[20]

Illinois' 14th Congressional District was one of 31 U.S. House districts that Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election and a Democratic House candidate won in 2018. Ratings outlets rated the general election for the district as a Tossup or Lean Democratic, and Democrats had a 232-197 majority in the U.S. House. Click here to learn more about what's at stake in the general election.

Click on candidate names below to view their key messages:


Gradel
Oberweis
Rezin


This page focuses on Illinois' 14th Congressional District Republican primary. For more in-depth information on the district's Democratic primary and the general election, see the following pages:

Democratic Party Illinois' 14th Congressional District election, 2020 (March 17 Democratic primary)
Independent Illinois' 14th Congressional District election, 2020

Election procedure changes in 2020

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.

Illinois modified its primary election process as follows:

  • Candidate filing procedures: Candidates for state-level office were exempted from filing statements of economic interests for the duration of the governor's disaster proclamation period and for 30 days thereafter.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.


Candidates and election results


Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 14

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Jim Oberweis
Jim Oberweis
 
25.6
 
13,333
Image of Sue Rezin
Sue Rezin
 
22.8
 
11,879
Image of Catalina Lauf
Catalina Lauf
 
20.1
 
10,451
Image of Ted Gradel
Ted Gradel
 
13.4
 
6,979
Image of James Marter
James Marter
 
11.0
 
5,724
Image of Jerry Evans
Jerry Evans
 
5.0
 
2,609
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Anthony Catella
 
2.1
 
1,118

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 52,093
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[21] Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.


Ted Gradel

Image of Ted Gradel

WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography:  Gradel graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1988 where he was a kicker on the football team. His professional experience has been in investment. He became a financial futures trader in 1989. As of the primary election, he was a self-employed investor and a trader at the Chicago Board of Trade and Chicago Mercantile Exchange. He has also been involved in area youth sports as a coach.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Gradel mentioned his time playing college football as a field goal kicker while at Notre Dame as an example of drive and hard work. His campaign slogan was, "I kicked footballs in college and I'll kick tails in Congress."

Gradel described himself as a businessman and political outsider. He said he supported congressional term limits, saying, "Our founders envisioned citizen legislators, not Springfield and Washington politicians serving forever and collecting a pension."

Gradel said he wanted to "break-up the Madigan-Pritzker machine" in reference to Illinois' speaker of the state House, Michael Madigan (D), and governor, J.B. Pritzker (D). He said, "Mike Madigan controls every level of government and is running Illinois into the ground."

Gradel said would cut taxes in Illinois. At the federal level, he discussed making tax cuts signed by President Trump permanent. At the state level, he said wanted to repeal a recent gas tax increase and freeze property taxes.

Show sources

Sources: McHenry County Blog, "Ted Gradel Mails," February 4, 2020, Gradel 2020 campaign website, "Home," accessed March 11, 2020, McHenry County Blog, "IL 14: Ted Gradel Campaign Handout," February 2, 2020, McHenry County Blog, "IL-14: Ted Gradel's Latest Mailing Hitting Street," February 14, 2020, WTTW, "Ted Gradel," accessed March 11, 2020; Gradel 2020 campaign website, "About Ted Gradel," accessed March 11, 2020, LinkedIn, "Ted Gradel," accessed March 11, 2020, Chicago Sun-Times, "Ted Gradel, 14th Congressional District Republican candidate profile," January 22, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Illinois District 14 in 2020.

Jim Oberweis

Image of Jim Oberweis

WebsiteFacebookTwitter

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: Illinois State Senate (Assumed office: 2012)

Biography:  Oberweis graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and received an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. He founded an asset management firm. In 1986, purchased Oberweis Dairy, a family business founded by his grandfather, where he remained the owner as of the primary eleciton. He was a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2002, 2004, and 2014; governor in 2006; and U.S. House in the special and regularly scheduled elections in 2008.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Oberweis said defeating incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood was the most important thing in the election and that he was the best candidate to do so. He said that when he was the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Illinois in 2014, he defeated U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D) in every county that makes up part of Illinois' 14th Congressional District.  

Oberweis said his private sector background gave him the experience to know how to help businesses grow. He said he grew Oberweis Dairy from one store and 50 employees to 43 stores and over 1,200 employees.

Oberweis mentioned he had lived in the 14th District throughout his entire life including spending over the past 40 years in the same home. He said he was the only elected official running in the primary who, at the time of the election, lived in the 14th District.  

Oberweis said he supported access to quality healtchare by providing more transparency and competition to bring down costs. He also said he would protect coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and would lower drug costs.  

Show sources

Sources: WTTW, "Jim Oberweis," accessed March 11, 2020, McHenry County Blog, "IL 14: Oberweis Sends Second Newsletter, 8 Pages Long," January 26, 2020, Illinois Senate Republicans, "About Senator Oberweis," accessed March 11, 2020, Youtube, "Healthcare is Personal for Us," March 4, 2020, Youtube, "Candidate Forum Feb 2020, Part 1," February 11, 2020; Oberweis 2020 campaign website, "Home," accessed March 11, 2020, UIUC Department of Political Science, "Alumni Hall of Fame - James D. Oberweis," archived May 5, 2008, Vote Smart, "Jim Oberweis' Biography," accessed March 11, 2020, Chicago Sun-Times, "Jim Oberweis, 14th Congressional District Republican candidate profile," January 22, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Illinois District 14 in 2020.

Sue Rezin

Image of Sue Rezin

WebsiteFacebookTwitter

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: Illinois State Senate (Assumed office: 2010)

Biography:  Rezin graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. She worked as a marketing manager. In 2010, she was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in District 75, but before assuming office she was appointed to the state senate in District 38 after the previous incumbent resigned. As of the primary election, she was a co-owner and manager of real estate investments owned by her family.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Rezin's campaign slogan was "Results. Not Resistance." She said her experience as a state senator made her a commonsense conservative focused on results.

Rezin discussed electability and argued that she was the only Republican candidate that could defeat incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood. She said that, unlike her primary opponents, she had won five elections.

Discussing her time in the state Senate, Rezin said she had covered issues like "protections for people with preexisting health conditions, health care, education, veterans, ethics, energy, and flood prevention and mitigation."  

Regarding immigration, Rezin said she supported strong border security, opposed sanctuary cities, and would support President Trump on legal immigration.

Show sources

Sources: WTTW, "Sue Rezin," accessed March 11, 2020, McHenry County Blog, "IL-14:Sue Rezin Sends Second Newspaper," March 7, 2020, Chicago Tribune, "Who is Sue Rezin, Republican candidate for 14th Congressional District," February 19, 2020, Northwest Herald, "IL-14 Republicans meet Northwest Herald Editorial Board," February 27, 2020; Rezin 2020 campaign website, "Meet Sue," accessed March 11, 2020, Daily Journal, "10 Questions with state Sen. Sue Rezin," December 18, 2010, Daily Herald, "Sue Rezin: Candidate profile," February 14, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Illinois District 14 in 2020.


Endorsements

This section lists endorsements issued in this election. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please email us.

Republican primary endorsements
Endorsement Catella Evans Gradel Lauf Marter Oberweis Rezin
Newspapers and editorials
Chicago Sun-Times[22] ✔
Chicago Tribune[23] ✔
Daily Herald[24] ✔
DeKalb Daily Chronicle[25] ✔
Northwest Herald[25] ✔
Elected officials
Illinois State Rep. Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport)[26] ✔
Illinois State Sen. John Curran (R-Woodridge)[27] ✔
Illinois State Sen. Don DeWitte (R-West Dundee)[27] ✔
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey (R)[28] ✔
Illinois State Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg)[26] ✔
Illinois State Rep. Randy Frese (R-Quincy)[26][29] ✔
Illinois State Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville)[30] ✔
U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.)[31] ✔
Illinois State Sen. Dan McConchie[25] ✔
U.S. Representative John Ratcliffe (R-Texas)[32] ✔
Illinois State Rep. Steven Reick (R-Woodstock)[27] ✔
Illinois State Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon)[26] ✔
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)[33] ✔
Illinois State Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee)[34] ✔
Illinois State Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford)[35] ✔
Illinois State Sen. Brian Stewart (R-Freeport)[26] ✔
Illinois State Rep. David Welter (R-Morris)[27] ✔
Individuals
America First Action spokesman, Steve Cortes[36] ✔
Former U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.)[30] ✔
Former U.S. Representative Donald Manzullo (R-Ill.)[37] ✔
Organizations
A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois[38] ✔
Illinois Citizens for Life[39] ✔
Illinois Family Action[40] ✔
Lake County Right to Life[35] ✔
Maverick PAC[41] ✔
Republican Main Street Partnership PAC[42] ✔
VIEW PAC[43] ✔

Timeline

2020

Campaign themes

See also: Campaign themes

Anthony Catella

Catella's campaign website stated the following:

“

Important Facts About Anthony and His Views

Anthony's family has contributed to a civic life with both military and public service.
Anthony has a degree in American Studies from Quincy University in 1994
Anthony also has a degree in Divinity from Holy Apostles Seminary in 2008
Having been both a Soldier and Priest, Anthony has learned great life lessons and leadership skills.
Anthony thinks that the most pressing issues are Property Taxes and National Debt Relief
Anthony stands for the principles that made and keep America a great country.
Anthony believes in Limited Government and Individual Liberty under law.
Anthony believes Honesty is an important trait for a leader, and will always tell the truth.
If elected Anthony will serve his entire term in service to his constituents and fellow citizens.
Anthony believes in a Free Market Economy, Tax Reductions, and a Balanced Budget Amendment.
Anthony is not afraid to take a brave stand on the issues, and will also be a consensus builder.

[47]

”
—Anthony Catella’s campaign website (2020)[48]


Jerry Evans

Evans' campaign website stated the following:

“

Top Five for Illinois District 14 “In the name of transparency and getting things done, I am presenting my legislative agenda for my first term in Congress and platform on which I will be campaigning against Rep. Underwood. As her constituents know best, Rep. Underwood is too radical for the 14th District. I am announcing my plan to bring back your values and your voice to the District.” - Jerry Evans

1. Fix Our Broken Healthcare System
We don’t need government centered healthcare, we need patient centered healthcare. Fixing our healthcare system starts with reducing red tape by opening the market to allow insurance and pharmaceutical companies to compete across state lines. I would reform the system by increasing competition while ensuring further protection for Americans with pre-existing conditions. My plan would allow American patients to dictate the coverage and care they need.
2. Address the Immigration Crisis
Appropriating funding to finish the southern border wall is a number one priority and I will make sure President Trump has what is needed to secure our border. I believe in creating a simplified, modern path, to allow legal immigration into our nation, while ensuring that we have a secure border.
3. Small Business and Middle Class Tax Cuts
Small businesses account for 99% of all business in Illinois. As a small business owner, I understand the burdens that small businesses and middle class America faces everyday. Additional tax cuts are needed to support the middle class and small businesses. I will be a lead sponsor of this legislation in the next Congress.
4. Defend the Unborn
As a man of God, I believe that life begins at conception and every life is absolutely precious. With deep sincerity and care for mothers, fathers, and unborn children, I will fight to end taxpayer funding for abortion. An unborn child is a person and I will fight to protect it’s right to life.
5. End Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is the worst form of modern-day slavery and one of the most heinous crimes against humanity we see today: robbing people of their freedom, livelihood, and dignity. It is prevalent not only within the United States but also throughout the communities of the 14th Congressional District. As your next Representative, I will fight to eradicate human trafficking.

[47]

”
—Jerry Evans' campaign website (2020)[49]


Ted Gradel

Gradel's campaign website stated the following:

“
  • Term Limits
Special interests run this country and lobbyists control the agenda in Washington. Ted wants to pass term limits to kick out the career politicians who let it happen.
  • Taxes
Mike Madigan and JB Pritzker are pushing a tax plan that could raise taxes on the middle classes — while helping political insiders. Ted opposes the Madigan-Pritzker tax hike and wants to freeze property taxes. In Washington he’ll go to work on making last year’s tax cuts permanent.
  • Debt
The federal government has $22 trillion in debt, and it’s growing every day. Ted’s a businessman who looks at financial statements for a living and no business in America would survive with all that debt. Ted wants to end the special deals and stop runaway spending to shrink the debt.
  • Socialism
Ted is deeply concerned about the growing chorus of voices like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other socialists who are pushing policies that will take more money out of taxpayers’ pockets. As a self-made businessman who didn’t have any connections or help along the way, Ted wants to encourage the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit that allowed him to realize his American Dream so that others can do the same.
  • Foreign Policy
Ted believes in a strong national defense and what Ronald Reagan called peace through strength. Ted knows we need to be vigilant as more threats constantly arise around the world and believes the campaign against ISIS is a blueprint for precise, limited action in cases where it is absolutely necessary.
  • Ted Gradel
Ted Gradel is a self-made businessman, father, and coach. He walked on to play football at Notre Dame and walked on to the business scene in Chicago without any special connections, through a lot of hard work and guts. Ted, his wife Sarah, and their three daughters have lived the American Dream. He’s running for Congress so that everyone has the same opportunity he did to achieve their own American Dream.

[47]

”
—Ted Gradel's campaign website (2020)[50]


Catalina Lauf

Lauf's campaign website stated the following:

“
  • Protecting Individual Liberties
Whether it is the Green New Deal or Medicare-For-ALL, our freedoms are under attack by the Far-Left and their constant push for bigger government. Our Rights are not debatable, chief among them our 2nd Amendment. As a strong Constitutional Conservative, Catalina firmly supports our individual liberties, will be a champion for freedom and a fierce defender of our Constitutional Rights.
  • Immigration Reform
As the daughter of a woman who came to the United States legally from Guatemala, Catalina is a strong supporter of legal immigration. Unfortunately, immigration reform has become far too politicized and real, workable solutions have not been addressed by leaders in Congress. Catalina believes that having a safe and secure border is essential to our nation’s security and will help President Trump finish building the wall, secure our ports of entry, and will support legislation that encourages legal immigration.
  • Jobs / Economy
As the daughter of a small-business owner and as a former presidential political appointee to the Trump Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Catalina has witnessed first hand the positive results of President Trump’s America First Agenda in regards to Jobs and the Economy. She firmly supports President Trump’s Tax Cuts and Job Act, continued deregulation and tax cuts for small businesses, and will encourage policies that promote a free-enterprise, free-market system.

[47]

”
—Catalina Lauf's campaign website (2020)[51]


James Marter

Marter's campaign website stated the following:

“
  • Budget
Balanced budget Amendment! I will be relentless in the pursuit of cutting the size & scope of government, eliminating waste, fraud, & abuse.
  • Immigration
Enforce existing Immigration law. Build the wall. No DACA & No Amnesty. End Chain migration & birthright citizenship. End Sanctuary Cities.
  • 2nd Amendment
I firmly support the 2A – “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.” NRA 100% Candidate Rating. NRA, ISRA, GunsSaveLife.com
  • Economy
Unleash the economy by cutting taxes & red tape. Free up American business & workers to excel & grow the economy Making America Great Again!
  • Reform
Cut the size & scope of Government “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem” – Ronald Reagan
  • Health
Repeal Obamacare, or as I know it, the “Un-Affordable Care Act”. I won’t rest until repealed. It is “Unconstitutional” on multiple fronts!
  • Military
I support a strong Military, one of the limited constitutional powers of the federal government. I support our brave men & women.
  • Veterans Admin (VA)
I support our Veterans. Within VA hospitals & centers, investigate & solve the crisis of incompetency and corruption. Help our veterans!
  • Pro-life
I am ProLife. Protect LIFE of the innocent child in the womb. Ensure Planned Parenthood is defunded permanently. Sponsor LIFE legislation.
  • Taxes
You deserve a tax cut, more than just passed. I support a 10% Flat Tax and repeal of the Estate/Death tax, lower taxes on American business
  • Energy
Build the Keystone XL pipeline. Responsibly Produce new American energy from available natural resources in the lower 48 and in Alaska.
  • Social Security
A Ponzi scheme by any definition, antiquated & archaic, needs to be repealed & replaced, modernized to protect Americans who rely upon it.
  • Education
End federal involvement in Common Core, eliminate the Dept. of Education. Get the Federal government out of education, per 10th Amendment.
  • Values
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

[47]

”
—James Marter's campaign website (2020)[52]


Jim Oberweis

Oberweis' campaign website stated the following:

“
  • Socialism
It has become increasingly fashionable for Washington politicians to embrace socialism. Jim knows the inherent dangers of adopting socialist ideas – from wealth redistribution schemes to job-killing tax plans. Our nation was founded on the ideas of free enterprise and innovation, and Jim will support policies that enhance the free market and allow inventors, innovators, and job-creators to thrive. Socialism fails everywhere it is implemented, stifling creativity and freedom. Jim has been a staunch supporter of the free market in the state legislature and in his work in the private sector, and he will continue to champion the free market once elected to Congress.
  • Border Security
Our nation’s border security system is undeniably broken. By not enforcing our nation’s immigration laws, we have created incentives for people to cross the border illegally. Jim supports strong border security, and believes the law enforcement agents who work at ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) deserve to have the resources and support they need to conduct their vital work at the border. As a country, we must decide how many immigrants we want to accept per year and whether those should be merit based. Then we need to enforce that law. If we allow people to enter our country illegally, then we are pushing them to the head of the line for new immigrants and penalizing those who are attempting to join our country legally. That is not fair.
  • Spending
Out-of-control spending in Washington has created our nation’s $22 trillion debt. As someone who has run successful businesses, Jim recognizes the need for commonsense budgets and spending restraint. He supports spending reductions, and will work in Congress to eliminate the waste and redundant government programs. It isn’t fair for our children and grandchildren to be saddled with the burdens caused by today’s fiscal irresponsibility in Washington – and Jim will work to restore fiscal discipline on Capitol Hill.
  • Term Limits
Jim favors both state and federal proposals to limit legislators’ terms. Politicians who spend their entire careers in Congress inevitably start representing the government establishment and the special interests who finance their campaigns rather than the families they take an oath to represent. Term-limited politicians tend to vote in ways that they believe are good for our country instead of ways that are good for their reelection. Jim also supports the creation of an independent redistricting commission to prohibit gerrymandering.
  • Health Care
From protecting those with pre-existing conditions to escalating health insurance costs to the need for accessible and affordable care, Jim understands the problems facing our nation’s health care system. Jim supports the free market, and believes government should play only a limited role in health care, while protecting those with pre-existing conditions. One of Jim’s favorite ideas to solve our nation’s health care crisis is to increase portability of health insurance plans. If we want to increase access and coverage, a great start is by allowing individuals to keep their insurance even when they switch jobs. In addition, if we want to bring down overall healthcare costs for our country, we need transparency in pricing and competition among providers.

[47]

”
—Jim Oberweis' campaign website (2020)[53]


Sue Rezin

Rezin's campaign website stated the following:

“
  • Cracking Down on Illegal Immigration
Just as you are not a bad neighbor if you lock the doors to your home while you are out, the United States is not a bad neighbor if it takes action to control our borders to determine who comes in, when and for how long. You may frequently entertain in your home, but you decide when to invite people in. You probably would be upset if you found strangers in your home when you didn’t invite them over. That’s how most nations treat immigration.
  • Standing with us on Preexisting Health Conditions
In 2019, State Senator Sue Rezin sponsored a bill in the Illinois State Senate to prohibit discrimination against people with preexisting health conditions from obtaining health coverage. She succeeded rounding up the votes for it by earning a unanimous vote in the Senate. The bill then was passed by the House. Shamefully, last August, after Sue Rezin became a candidate for Congress, Governor J.B. Pritzker issued his very first veto against the bill.
  • Advocating for Agriculture
Sue Rezin grew up on a small family farm by Geneseo, IL, where her father farmed a modest 200 acres and thus has a first-hand appreciation for the hard work farming involves and the low margins that make the difference between making a living and going broke. As a State Senator, Sue has represented a district where agriculture is the number one industry and her work in representing farmers has always earned the support of the Farm Bureau.
  • Supporting President Trump on Iran
Teddy Roosevelt Policy Alive Again—Speak Softly but Carry a Big Stick Rezin: President Trump’s decisive action against Iranian General Soleimani is equivalent to our enemies in WWII taking out either Supreme Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower or General Douglas MacArthur President Donald Trump’s order to surgically kill both legendary Iranian General Qassem Soleimani along with General alMuhandis who was the leader of the Iraqi militia that killed an American recently in escalating attacks against American bases in Iraq, could not have been more precise…more decisive…more impactful or more strategically brilliant.
  • Fighting High Property Taxes
In the 1990s, Sue Rezin was elected to her local school board. This experience gave her invaluable insights into education at the local level — both in terms of academic achievement and school finances. Most notably, Sue learned first-hand about the vast cost of school administration. So with Illinois having among the highest property taxes in the country, as a State Senator, Sue Rezin has been a strong proponent of measures allowing school districts to share administration functions and has introduced a bipartisan bill to do just that.
  • Ending Corruption
Sue Rezin is a leading member of a bipartisan group of State Legislators demanding sweeping new ethics laws in Illinois. Rezin notes that campaign contributions to Representatives and Senators have to be publicly disclosed. The State Board of Elections puts the information online so voters can see who is donating to each legislator. Sunshine on campaign contributions is a good thing.
  • Defending Life
Sue Rezin is committed to restoring a Culture of Life 100% Pro-Life Voting Record Sue Rezin gave the closing pro-life speech on the Senate Floor last May when Democrats pushed a new abortion bill with virtually no restrictions through the last day of the last month of pregnancy. It was an abominable bill pushed by Democrats who were giddy about using the new power of their supermajorities in the House and Senate along with a new Democrat Governor.
  • Opposing the Graduated Income Tax
Governor Pritzker and legislative Democrats are pushing a referendum this fall for a Graduated Income Tax. I urge you vote against it, and here’s why. While it is being wrapped in crafty language that it will only increase taxes on the rich and actually cut taxes for working people, it is a classic “foot in the door” ploy for higher income taxes for everyone.
  • Sue Rezin: A National Leader on Flood Resiliency
The Flood Resiliency Coalition is a model developed by State Senator Sue Rezin and is now the model included in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers’ Silver Jackets Program used throughout the country. It is also the model used by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Fox River Flood Coalition as a guideline for their flood resiliency plan.

[47]

”
—Sue Rezin's campaign website (2020)[54]


Campaign advertisements

This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.

Jerry Evans

Supporting Evans

"Jerry Evans 2020" - Evans campaign ad, released November 8, 2019


Ted Gradel

Supporting Gradel

"Hit the Mark" - Gradel campaign ad, released March 6, 2020
"Supreme Court" - Gradel campaign ad, released March 5, 2020
"Greatest Threat is Debt" - Gradel campaign ad, released February 12, 2020
"Coach Holtz: Early Voting Has Started" - Gradel campaign ad, released February 6, 2020
"Double Doink" - Gradel campaign ad, released February 3, 2020
"Power to the Patient" - Gradel campaign ad, released January 27, 2020
"Wide Left" - Gradel campaign ad, released January 21, 2020
"Isn't It Frustrating" - Gradel campaign ad, released January 14, 2020
"Freedom vs Socialism" - Gradel campaign ad, released January 10, 2020
"Ted on Life" - Gradel campaign ad, released January 10, 2020
"Ted on the Economy" - Gradel campaign ad, released January 10, 2020
"Teamwork" - Gradel campaign ad, released January 7, 2020
"Served and Protected" - Gradel campaign ad, released November 11, 2019



Jim Oberweis

Supporting Oberweis

"Set the Record Straight" - Oberweis campaign ad, released March 10, 2020
"Healthcare is Personal for US" - Oberweis campaign ad, released March 4, 2020
"Right on the Issue" - Oberweis campaign ad, released March 2, 2020
"Oberweis Life's lessons" - Oberweis campaign ad, released February 12, 2020
"Overturn" - Oberweis campaign ad, released January 10, 2020

Opposing Rezin

"Rezin Equals More Taxes" - Oberweis campaign ad, released February 20, 2020

Sue Rezin

Supporting Rezin

"Immigration Control" - Rezin campaign ad, released March 9, 2020
"A New Majority" - Rezin campaign ad, released February 25, 2020
"Results. Not Resistance" - Rezin campaign ad, released February 18, 2020

Satellite group ads

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

If you are aware of polls conducted in this race, please email us.

Campaign finance

This section contains campaign finance figures from the Federal Election Commission covering all candidate fundraising and spending in this election.[55] It does not include information on fundraising before the current campaign cycle or on spending by satellite groups. The numbers in this section are updated as candidates file new campaign finance reports. Candidates for Congress are required to file financial reports on a quarterly basis, as well as two weeks before any primary, runoff, or general election in which they will be on the ballot and upon the termination of any campaign committees.[56] The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Anthony Catella Republican Party $1,347 $1,347 $0 As of March 18, 2020
Jerry Evans Republican Party $75,035 $75,035 $0 As of July 30, 2020
Ted Gradel Republican Party $1,107,034 $1,107,034 $0 As of June 30, 2020
Catalina Lauf Republican Party $355,048 $355,048 $0 As of July 30, 2020
James Marter Republican Party $71,165 $71,513 $73 As of December 31, 2020
Jim Oberweis Republican Party $3,297,857 $3,207,798 $90,059 As of December 31, 2020
Sue Rezin Republican Party $689,724 $686,262 $3,462 As of December 31, 2020

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2020. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.


Satellite spending

See also: Satellite spending

Satellite spending, commonly referred to as outside spending, describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[57][58][59]

This section lists satellite spending in this race reported by news outlets in alphabetical order. If you are aware of spending that should be included, please email us.

  • The Illinois Conservatives PAC spent $910,100 on media placement opposing Oberweis between March 5 and March 13.[17] According to the FEC, the PAC filed its statement of organization on March 3, 2020.[18]
  • Our Future, Our Fight PAC spent a total of $14,942.34 between March 13 and 16 in the form of direct mail and digital ads. $7,471.17 was spent in support of Lauf. Three separate expenditures of $2,490.39 were spent to oppose Gradel, Oberweis, and Rezin.[17]
  • The New Prosperity Foundation spent a total of $227,900 opposing candidates in 2020. During that time, the group spent $164,408.96 opposing Oberweis and $39,991.04 opposing Rezin with direct mail. The group also spent $23,500 opposing Lauf with direct mail and phone calls.[17] In one mailer, the group associated Oberweis with Governor J.B. Pritzker and House Speaker Michael Madigan.[60] From 2019-2020, Thomas Mazza of Wheaton, Ill. fully-funded the New Prosperity Fund with three donations totalling $200,000.[20]

Almost all of the satellite spending in the race was oppositional, meaning it was spent in order to oppose a specific candidate. The table below breaks down oppositional satellite spending by group. Each row reflects the amount spent by the group in the leftmost column as of March 16. The bottom row reflects the total amount of satellite spending opposing each of the candidates listed. The only satellite spending in support of a candidate was $6,904.50 from Our Future, Our Fight PAC for Lauf. That amount is not reflected in the total.

Oppositional satellite spending by group[17]
Satellite group Gradel Lauf Oberweis Rezin Total
Illinois Conservatives PAC - - $910,100 - $910,100
Our Future, Our Fight PAC $2,490.39 - $2,490.39 $2,490.39 $7,471.17
The New Prosperity Foundation - $23,500 $164,408.96 $39,991.04 $227,900
Total spent opposing candidate $2,490.39 $23,500 $1,076,999.35 $42,481.43 $1,145,471.17
Updated March 20, 2020

Satellite spending in opposition to candidates totaled $1,145,471.17. Of that total, $1,076,999.35 had been spent opposing Oberweis, or roughly 94% of all oppositional spending. The only satellite spending in support of a candidate was $7,471.17 spent by Our Future, Our Fight PAC in support of Lauf.

Debates and forums

February 21 and 24 candidate interviews

Over the course of two days—February 21 and 24—Anthony Catella, Jerry Evans, Catalina Lauf, James Marter, Jim Oberweis, and Sue Rezin met with and answered questions from the Northwest Herald's Editorial Board.

Official recording, February 27, 2020, candidate interviews - Shaw Media

Click the link below for a summary of the candidate interviews from:

February 11 candidate forum

On February 11, all seven candidates participated in a candidate forum hosted by the Republican Committees of DuPage, Plainfield, and Wheatland Townships at the Bolingbrook Golf Club.

Recording by Nextsulting, February 11, 2020, candidate forum

Click the link below for a summary of the candidate forum from:

January 30 candidate forum

On January 30, Catella, Evans, Gradel, Lauf, Marter, and Rezin participated in a candidate forum co-hosted by the League of Women Voters and the Batavia Chamber of Commerce at the Batavia City Hall.

Official recording, January 30, 2020, candidate forum - Batavia Public Access TV

Click the links below for summaries of the candidate forum from:

January 22 debate

On January 22, all seven candidates participated in a debate hosted by the McHenry County Republican Party at McHenry County College's Luecht Auditorium.

Recording by Tim Bolger, January 23, 2020, debate

Click the link below for a summary of the candidate forum from:

Primaries in Illinois

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Illinois uses an open primary system. Voters do not have to register with a party, but they do have to choose, publicly, which party's ballot they will vote on at the primary election.[61][62]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

What's at stake in the general election?

U.S. House elections were held on November 3, 2020, and coincided with the 2020 presidential election. All 435 House districts were up for election, and the results determined control of the U.S. House in the 117th Congress.

At the time of the election, Democrats had a 232-197 advantage over Republicans. There was one Libertarian member, and there were five vacancies. Republicans needed to gain a net 21 seats to win control of the House. Democrats needed to gain seats or lose fewer than 14 net seats to keep their majority.

In the 2018 midterm election, Democrats had a net gain of 40 seats, winning a 235-200 majority in the House. Heading into the 2018 election, Republicans had a 235-193 majority with seven vacancies.

In the 25 previous House elections that coincided with a presidential election, the president's party had gained House seats in 16 elections and lost seats in nine. In years where the president's party won districts, the average gain was 18. In years where the president's party lost districts, the average loss was 27. Click here for more information on presidential partisanship and down-ballot outcomes.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

  • Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
  • Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
  • Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[63]
  • Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[64][65][66]

Race ratings: Illinois' 14th Congressional District election, 2020
Race trackerRace ratings
November 3, 2020October 27, 2020October 20, 2020October 13, 2020
The Cook Political ReportLikely DemocraticLikely DemocraticLikely DemocraticLikely Democratic
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesSolid DemocraticSolid DemocraticSolid DemocraticSolid Democratic
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallLikely DemocraticLikely DemocraticLikely DemocraticLikely Democratic
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every week throughout the election season.

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+5, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 5 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Illinois' 14th Congressional District the 191st most Republican nationally.[67]

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 0.97. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.97 points toward that party.[68]

District represented by a Democrat in 2020 and won by Donald Trump in 2016

See also: U.S. House districts represented by a Democrat in 2020 and won by Donald Trump in 2016

This district was one of 30 Democratic-held U.S. House districts up in 2020 that Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Most were expected to be among the House's most competitive elections in 2020.


2020 Democratic-held U.S. House districts won by Donald Trump in 2016
District Incumbent Ran in 2020? 2018 congressional margin 2016 presidential margin 2012 presidential margin
Arizona's 1st Democratic Party Tom O'Halleran Yes Democrats+7.7 Trump+1.1 Romney+2.5
Georgia's 6th Democratic Party Lucy McBath Yes Democrats+1.0 Trump+1.5 Romney+23.3
Illinois' 14th Democratic Party Lauren Underwood Yes Democrats+5.0 Trump+3.9 Romney+10
Illinois' 17th Democratic Party Cheri Bustos Yes Democrats+24.2 Trump+0.7 Obama+17
Iowa's 1st Democratic Party Abby Finkenauer Yes Democrats+5.1 Trump+3.5 Obama+13.7
Iowa's 2nd Democratic Party Dave Loebsack Retired Democrats+5.2 Trump+4.1 Obama+13.1
Iowa's 3rd Democratic Party Cindy Axne Yes Democrats+2.2 Trump+3.5 Obama+4.2
Maine's 2nd Democratic Party Jared Golden Yes Democrats+1.3 Trump+10.3 Obama+8.6
Michigan's 8th Democratic Party Elissa Slotkin Yes Democrats+3.8 Trump+6.7 Romney+3.1
Michigan's 11th Democratic Party Haley Stevens Yes Democrats+6.7 Trump+4.4 Romney+5.4
Minnesota's 2nd Democratic Party Angie Craig Yes Democrats+5.5 Trump+1.2 Obama+0.1
Minnesota's 7th Democratic Party Collin Peterson Yes Democrats+4.3 Trump+30.8 Romney+9.8
Nevada's 3rd Democratic Party Susie Lee Yes Democrats+9.1 Trump+1.0 Obama+0.8
New Hampshire's 1st Democratic Party Chris Pappas Yes Democrats+8.6 Trump+1.6 Obama+1.6
New Jersey's 3rd Democratic Party Andrew Kim Yes Democrats+1.3 Trump+6.2 Obama+4.6
New Jersey's 5th Democratic Party Josh Gottheimer Yes Democrats+13.7 Trump+1.1 Romney+3.0
New Jersey's 11th Democratic Party Mikie Sherrill Yes Democrats+14.6 Trump+0.9 Romney+5.8
New Mexico's 2nd Democratic Party Xochitl Torres Small Yes Democrats+1.9 Trump+10.2 Romney+6.8
New York's 11th Democratic Party Max Rose Yes Democrats+6.5 Trump+9.8 Obama+4.3
New York's 18th Democratic Party Sean Maloney Yes Democrats+10.9 Trump+1.9 Obama+4.3
New York's 19th Democratic Party Antonio Delgado Yes Democrats+5.2 Trump+6.8 Obama+6.2
New York's 22nd Democratic Party Anthony Brindisi Yes Democrats+1.8 Trump+15.5 Romney+0.4
Oklahoma's 5th Democratic Party Kendra Horn Yes Democrats+1.4 Trump+13.4 Romney+18.4
Pennsylvania's 8th Democratic Party Matt Cartwright Yes Democrats+9.3 Trump+9.6 Obama+11.9
Pennsylvania's 17th Democratic Party Conor Lamb Yes Democrats+12.5 Trump+2.6 Romney+4.5
South Carolina's 1st Democratic Party Joe Cunningham Yes Democrats+1.4 Trump+13.1 Romney+18.1
Utah's 4th Democratic Party Ben McAdams Yes Democrats+0.3 Trump+6.7 Romney+37.0
Virginia's 2nd Democratic Party Elaine Luria Yes Democrats+2.2 Trump+3.4 Romney+2.3
Virginia's 7th Democratic Party Abigail Spanberger Yes Democrats+1.9 Trump+6.5 Romney+10.5
Wisconsin's 3rd Democratic Party Ron Kind Yes Democrats+19.3 Trump+4.5 Obama+11
Source: Sabato's Crystal Ball and Daily Kos


Click here to see the five U.S. House districts represented by a Republican in 2020 and won by Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Eleven of 102 Illinois counties—10.8 percent—are Pivot Counties. These are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Alexander County, Illinois 8.30% 13.65% 12.62%
Carroll County, Illinois 26.69% 1.49% 4.81%
Fulton County, Illinois 14.93% 11.04% 21.33%
Henderson County, Illinois 28.43% 12.25% 17.67%
Henry County, Illinois 20.99% 3.08% 7.74%
Jo Daviess County, Illinois 14.64% 1.16% 10.49%
Knox County, Illinois 2.91% 17.37% 19.89%
Mercer County, Illinois 20.36% 7.39% 11.91%
Putnam County, Illinois 19.92% 1.82% 15.64%
Warren County, Illinois 16.50% 5.47% 8.08%
Whiteside County, Illinois 6.18% 17.02% 17.56%

In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won Illinois with 55.8 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 38.8 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Illinois voted Republican 50 percent of the time and Democratic 50 percent of the time. Illinois voted Democratic in all five elections from 2000 to 2016.

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Illinois. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[69][70]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 75 out of 118 state House districts in Illinois with an average margin of victory of 39.2 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 76 out of 118 state House districts in Illinois with an average margin of victory of 42.1 points. Clinton won 13 districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 43 out of 118 state House districts in Illinois with an average margin of victory of 15 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 42 out of 118 state House districts in Illinois with an average margin of victory of 22.1 points. Trump won four districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.

District election history

2018

See also: Illinois' 14th Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 14

Lauren Underwood defeated incumbent Randy Hultgren in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 14 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Lauren Underwood
Lauren Underwood (D)
 
52.5
 
156,035
Image of Randy Hultgren
Randy Hultgren (R)
 
47.5
 
141,164

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 297,199
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 14

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 14 on March 20, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Lauren Underwood
Lauren Underwood
 
57.3
 
29,391
Image of Matt Brolley
Matt Brolley
 
13.4
 
6,845
Image of Jim Walz
Jim Walz
 
10.0
 
5,100
Image of Victor Swanson
Victor Swanson
 
7.0
 
3,597
Image of John Hosta
John Hosta
 
5.0
 
2,578
Image of George Weber
George Weber
 
5.0
 
2,570
Image of Daniel Roldan-Johnson
Daniel Roldan-Johnson
 
2.3
 
1,170

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 51,251
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 14

Incumbent Randy Hultgren advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 14 on March 20, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Randy Hultgren
Randy Hultgren
 
100.0
 
51,672

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 51,672
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: Illinois' 14th Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Randy Hultgren (R) defeated Jim Walz (D) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Hultgren ran unopposed in the Republican primary on March 15, 2016, while Walz defeated John Hosta and Jesse Maggitt to win the Democratic nomination.[71][72]

U.S. House, Illinois District 14 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngRandy Hultgren Incumbent 59.3% 200,508
     Democratic Jim Walz 40.7% 137,589
Total Votes 338,097
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections


U.S. House, Illinois District 14 Democratic Primary, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngJim Walz 42.7% 27,706
John Hosta 38.3% 24,866
Jesse Maggitt 19% 12,311
Total Votes 64,883
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections

2014

See also: Illinois' 14th Congressional District elections, 2014

The 14th Congressional District of Illinois held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Randy Hultgren (R) defeated Dennis Anderson (D) in the general election.

U.S. House, Illinois District 14 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngRandy Hultgren Incumbent 65.4% 145,369
     Democratic Dennis Anderson 34.6% 76,861
Total Votes 222,230
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections Official Results

State profile

See also: Illinois and Illinois elections, 2020
USA Illinois location map.svg

Partisan data

The information in this section was current as of March 5, 2020.

Presidential voting pattern

Congressional delegation

State executives

  • Democrats held six of 13 state executive offices. The Illinois Commerce Commission was composed of individuals with different affiliations. Elections for the other six offices were nonpartisan.
  • Illinois' governor was Democrat J.B. Pritzker.

State legislature

Illinois Party Control: 1992-2025
Nineteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  Two years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R D D D D D D D
Senate D R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
House D D D R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

Illinois quick stats
  • Became a state in 1818
  • 21st state admitted to the United States
  • Illinois' population doubled every 10 years between 1820 and 1860,
    making it one of the fastest-growing places in the world at the time.[73]
  • Members of the Illinois State Senate: 59
  • Members of the Illinois House of Representatives: 118
  • U.S. senators: 2
  • U.S. representatives: 18
More Illinois coverage on Ballotpedia:


Demographic data for Illinois
 IllinoisU.S.
Total population:12,839,047316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):55,5193,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:72.3%73.6%
Black/African American:14.3%12.6%
Asian:5%5.1%
Native American:0.2%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
Two or more:2.2%3%
Hispanic/Latino:16.5%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:87.9%86.7%
College graduation rate:32.3%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$57,574$53,889
Persons below poverty level:16.8%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Illinois.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Gradel 2020 campaign site, "Home," accessed March 11, 2020
  2. ↑ McHenry County Blog, "Ted Gradel Mails," February 4, 2020
  3. ↑ McHenry County Blog, "IL-14: Ted Gradel's Latest Mailing Hitting Street," February 14, 2020
  4. ↑ Oberweis 2020 campaign site, "Home," accessed March 11, 2020
  5. ↑ UIUC Department of Political Science, "Alumni Hall of Fame - James D. Oberweis," archived May 12, 2008
  6. ↑ YouTube, "Set the Record Straight," March 10, 2020
  7. ↑ YouTube, "Healthcare is Personal for Us," March 4, 2020
  8. ↑ McHenry County Blog, "IL 14 – Rezin Mails 20-Page Introduction Piece," January 25, 2020
  9. ↑ McHenry County Blog, "IL-14:Sue Rezin Sends Second Newspaper," March 7, 2020
  10. ↑ YouTube, "Immigration Control," March 9, 2020
  11. ↑ McHenry County Blog, "IL-14: Ted Gradel Mailer Has His Positives and Sue Rezin Negatives," March 11, 2020]
  12. ↑ McHenry County Blog, "IL-14: Gradel Mailing Hits Oberweis on One Side, Promotes Self on Other," February 21, 2020
  13. ↑ Food and Drug Administration, "Federal court issues decision holding that US Stem Cell clinics and owner adulterated and misbranded stem cell products in violation of the law," June 4, 2019
  14. ↑ Rezin 2020 campaign site, "Oberweis Campaign: “Blinded by Ted"," accessed March 12, 2020
  15. ↑ McHenry County Blog, "Oberweis mailer shows voters where Rezin lives on the map while Lauren Underwood claims Oberweis is hiding money in Florida from full taxation," February 23, 2020
  16. ↑ YouTube, "A New Majority," February 25, 2020
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 17.7 Federal Election Commission, "Independent expenditures," accessed March 18, 2020
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Federal Election Commission, "Statement of Organization," accessed March 9, 2020
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 McHenry County Blog, "IL-14: Attack Ad Against Jim Oberweis by Independent Expenditure," March 9, 2020
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Federal Election Commission, "Receipts," accessed March 11, 2020
  21. ↑ Candidate Connection surveys completed before September 26, 2019, were not used to generate candidate profiles. In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
  22. ↑ Chicago Sun Times, "ENDORSEMENT: Jim Oberweis for Congress in the 14th District Republican primary," February 13, 2020
  23. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Editorial: More choices for U.S. House: Quigley, Ives, Davis, Krishnamoorthi, Foster, Bansal ...," February 14, 2020
  24. ↑ Daily Herald, "Endorsement: Rezin for Republicans in House 14th District," February 17, 2020
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 Twitter, "Sue Rezin," March 12, 2020
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 Jim Oberweis for Congress, "Oberweis Releases Preliminary Endorsement List," June 28, 2019
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 Sue Rezin U.S. Congress, "Sue Rezin Endorsed by the Chicago Tribune," February 16, 2020
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Twitter, "Ted Gradel," March 9, 2020
  29. ↑ The original press release listing endorsements mistakenly spelled Representative Frese's last name as Freeze.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Twitter, "James Marter," January 30, 2020
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Twitter, "Adam Kinzinger," March 12, 2020
  32. ↑ Twitter, "Ted Gradel," March 3, 2020
  33. ↑ Kane County Chronicle, "Marco Rubio to headline Oberweis campaign fundraiser," October 17, 2019
  34. ↑ Daily Chronicle, "Skillicorn endorses Oberweis in crowded 14th Congressional District race," September 5, 2019
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Jim Oberweis for Congress, "Endorsements," accessed March 10, 2020
  36. ↑ Twitter, "Steve Cortes," February 18, 2020
  37. ↑ Kendall County Times, "Former Congressman Manzullo endorses Sen. Oberweis in 14th District race," January 20, 2020
  38. ↑ Twitter, "Sue Rezin," January 13, 2020
  39. ↑ Dupage Policy Journal, "Sen. Oberweis gains Illinois Citizens for Life endorsement in congressional race against Underwood," February 6, 2020
  40. ↑ Illinois Family Action, "IFA Endorsements for the 2020 Primary Election," February 28, 2020
  41. ↑ Maverick PAC site, "Candidates," accessed March 13, 2020
  42. ↑ Twitter, "Sue Rezin," January 28, 2020
  43. ↑ Sue Rezin U.S. Congress, "Rezin endorsed by VIEW PAC," January 8, 2020
  44. ↑ The New York Times, "Illinois Primary Election Results: 14th House District," accessed March 18, 2020
  45. ↑ Youtube, "Jim 2020," March 10, 2020
  46. ↑ Youtube, "Sue Rezin for Congress 2020," March 9, 2020
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 47.3 47.4 47.5 47.6 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  48. ↑ Anthony Catella's campaign website, “Home,” accessed March 6, 2020
  49. ↑ Jerry Evans' campaign website, “Top 5 Issues,” accessed March 6, 2020
  50. ↑ Ted Gradel's campaign website, “Issues,” accessed March 6, 2020
  51. ↑ Catalina Lauf's campaign website, “Home,” accessed March 6, 2020
  52. ↑ James Marter's campaign website, “Issues,” accessed March 6, 2020
  53. ↑ Jim Oberweis' campaign website, “Issues,” accessed March 6, 2020
  54. ↑ Sue Rezin's campaign website, “Issues,” accessed March 6, 2020
  55. ↑ Fundraising by primary candidates can be found on the race's respective primary election page. Fundraising by general election candidates can be found on the race's general election page.
  56. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "2022 Quarterly Reports," accessed March 2, 2022
  57. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed September 22, 2015
  58. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed September 22, 2015
  59. ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," November 6, 2015
  60. ↑ McHenry County Blog, "Piece Attacking Jim Oberweis Hits Mail Boxes Financed by Greg Baise-run SuperPac," February 7, 2020
  61. ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "Illinois Compiled Statutes 10 ILCS 5/7-41," accessed August 12, 2024
  62. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed August 12, 2024
  63. ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
  64. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
  65. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
  66. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
  67. ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
  68. ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
  69. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  70. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
  71. ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate List," accessed November 30, 2015
  72. ↑ The New York Times, "Illinois Primary Results," March 15, 2016
  73. ↑ Encyclopedia.com, "Illinois," accessed May 7, 2019


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