US Rep. Underwood wins reelection in close Chicago-area race

The district has historically been Republican but flipped two years ago

Nov 12, 2020

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood has been reelected over Republican businessman and state lawmaker Jim Oberweis in a close Chicago-area race.

The district has historically been Republican but flipped two years ago. Underwood, who is Black, was the first woman and first minority to win the congressional seat once held by Republican former House Speaker Dennis Hastert. She ousted four-term Republican Randy Hultgren two years ago in a Democratic wave.

Oberweis has been a state senator since 2013. He’s previously run unsuccessfully for higher public office multiple times, including for U.S. Senate and Illinois governor. He owns Oberweis Dairy, which runs milk and ice cream stores.

This year’s race between Oberweis and Underwood was among the most expensive in Illinois. Underwood raised more than $7 million, while Oberweis raised about $2.5 million.

She and Oberweis repeatedly clashed on gun control, health care and immigration in the congressional district that covers a mix of suburban and rural areas north and west of Chicago.

Underwood, a nurse, has called health care a human right and says she was inspired to run in 2018 when Hultgren supported legislation that would have made coverage of preexisting conditions more expensive.

Oberweis, who has called the Affordable Care Act a “disaster,” supports repealing and replacing it. He had backing from President Donald Trump and appeared with him at a rally in Kenosha, Wisconsin, days before the election.

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