UNDERWOOD HOLDS EARLY LEAD
Freshman U.S. representative has edge in Will, Kane, DeKalb, with Oberweis strong in Lake
As returns continued to trickle in, freshman U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood looked to be holding on to her job Tuesday night against Republican challenger Jim Oberweis.
In one of the many congressional races viewed as a referendum on President Donald Trump — with whom state Sen. Oberweis campaigned as recently as Monday — Underwood appeared to be heading to a second term representing far western suburbanites in the 14th District, though returns were still far from complete.
With about 27% of precincts reporting, Underwood led Oberweis, 51% to 49%. The congresswoman held strong leads in Will, Kane and DeKalb counties, while Oberweis was leading in Lake. Results from DuPage County were stalled.
It wasn’t clear how many mail-in ballots remained to be counted.
The 34-year- old Democrat awaited returns from her campaign headquarters in a St. Charles park of office suites. Wearing a face mask and a blue pant suit over a “Phenomenal Woman” T-shirt, she wouldn’t speak to reporters allowed inside to photograph her.
Outside, where the congresswoman is expected to address the media later Tuesday night before a backdrop of hay bales, a pickup truck bearing a large “Trump 2020” flag drove through the parking lot and two people inside screamed “Trump 2020.” A family of Underwood fans waited in the parking lot near her campaign van.
To keep supporters safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, Underwood hosted an online celebration, complete with a DJ and featuring Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth and former Indiana mayor and presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg.
Oberweis, 74, of Sugar Grove, was watching returns from two large event rooms at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Aurora. He would not let reporters in, but spokesman Travis Akin said the campaign was feeling optimistic and expected a winner to be declared Tuesday night. While behind in the tally of mail-in votes, Akin said Oberweis expected to catch up once all the in-person precincts were counted.
A registered nurse who lives in Naperville, Underwood ran on a health care platform critical of Republicans’ response to the COVID19 pandemic. Oberweis stressed law and order and accused his opponent of being soft on people who rioted and looted in the wake of civil rights protests.
The sprawling 14th District runs from Chicago’s outer suburbs up to the Wisconsin border and includes parts of Lake, McHenry, Kane, DeKalb, Kendall, DuPage and Will counties.
Underwood pulled off a stunning upset in 2018, defeating incumbent Randy Hultgren to win her first elected office and becoming a rare Black representative in a majority white district that had voted for Trump in 2016. She was part of a blue wave that sent a new cadre of women to Congress.
Oberweis has leaned hard on Trump. The congressional candidate appeared Monday night in Kenosha, Wisconsin, at the president’s campaign rally, and Thursday, Trump headlined a virtual rally for Oberweis arranged at the last minute.
Last week he also scored an endorsement from Trump in which the president tweeted the dairy magnate “will be a terrific Congressman for Illinois! A successful businessman, he will Create Jobs, Lower Taxes, Defend Law & Order, and Protect your Second Amendment from the Radical Left. Jim has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”
Underwood has been ranked by the Center for Responsive Politics as one of the least wealthy freshmen reps in Congress, with a net worth of about $30,000. Oberweis is a millionaire known for pouring his own money into his failed campaigns dating back to 2002 and including unsuccessful bids for governor and the U.S. Senate. He has been a state senator since 2013.
Oberweis self-funded his House race, lending his campaign $1.7 million, according to his most recent campaign finance report dated Sept. 30. He defeated six other challengers in the spring primary.