Jim Oberweis
Member of the Illinois Senate
from the 25th district
In office
January 9, 2013 – January 13, 2021
Preceded byChris Lauzen
Succeeded byKarina Villa
Personal details
Born (1946-06-10) June 10, 1946
Aurora, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
Elaine
​
(div. 2003)​
    Julie
    ​
    (m. 2008)​
    Children5
    EducationUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (BA)
    University of Chicago (MBA)

    James D. Oberweis (born June 10, 1946) is an American businessman, investment manager, and politician from the state of Illinois. The owner of Oberweis Dairy in North Aurora near Chicago, he served as a member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 25th district from 2013 to 2021.

    Oberweis has been a perennial candidate for higher office. He sought the Republican nomination for the United States Senate in 2002 and 2004, and the Republican nomination for Governor of Illinois in 2006. He was the Republican nominee for Illinois's 14th congressional district in a March 2008 special election and the November 2008 general election, losing on both occasions to Democrat Bill Foster. In 2012, Oberweis was first elected to the Illinois Senate in the 25th district. He again ran for the U.S. Senate in 2014, losing to Democratic incumbent Dick Durbin. In 2020, Oberweis ran for a third time in the 14th congressional district, this time losing to Democratic incumbent Lauren Underwood.

    Education

    After graduating from Marmion Academy in Aurora, Illinois, he attended the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, where he joined Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. He spent a year abroad, studying at Technische Hochschule Darmstadt.[1][2] He received a Bachelor of Arts from Illinois, and then a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago.[3]

    Career

    In 1968, Oberweis became a junior high school teacher at Waldo Junior High in Aurora, teaching math and science.[4] In 1970, he changed careers and became an investment stockbroker. Within a few years, he was promoted to manager of a branch office.

    In 1976, he began publication of an investment newsletter, the Oberweis Report, which reported on emerging growth companies. The Report was rated highly among investment advice newsletters. In 1978, Oberweis and his first wife, Elaine, established their own investment management company, Oberweis Securities in Aurora, Illinois.

    In 1986, Oberweis purchased and assumed control of family business Oberweis Dairy.[5] His father, Joe, had died in 1984, and Joe's successor (and Jim's older brother) John suffered an incapacitating stroke in 1986; after Jim's purchase he turned day-to-day operations over to outside presidents who embarked on acquisition programs highly leveraged with debt. Elaine Oberweis (University of Chicago MBA '89)[6] left the brokerage business in 1989 to rescue the dairy business from near-ruin.[7]

    He remained active in the investment field. In 1987, he founded Oberweis Emerging Growth Fund. In 1989, he established Oberweis Asset Management (OAM). OAM specializes in "small-cap growth equities investing", and has individual accounts for institutional investors and a family of mutual funds for individual investors. As of 2015, OAM had about $2 billion under management.[8]

    Oberweis moved the Oberweis Dairy from Aurora to its present location in North Aurora. He also began a chain of company-owned dairy stores, and has maintained a dairy delivery business to homes in the Chicago area. A franchise program began in 2004, to expand the dairy business outside of northeast Illinois.[9]

    Television

    Oberweis became a financial news anchor and host of the show Catching Winners Early on the Financial News Network. In Chicago, Oberweis became a regular guest on the Ask an Expert show. Oberweis was also a popular guest on CNBC, CNN, and Bloomberg TV.[3]

    Political activity

    Oberweis has sought elective office seven times, succeeding in the 2012 race for the 25th State Senate district seat. His record of unsuccessful election campaigns earned him the nickname of "the Milk Dud".[10]

    2002 U.S. Senate election

    In 2002, Oberweis sought the Republican nomination for U.S. Senator, but lost in the primary, finishing second of three with 31%.[11]

    2004 U.S. Senate election

    Oberweis ran for Senator again in 2004, but again lost in the primary, finishing second of seven with 24%.[11]

    Soon after the primary, the winner, Jack Ryan withdrew due to personal scandal. Some Republicans felt that as the second-place finisher, Oberweis should replace Ryan, but the state central committee chose Alan Keyes instead. Keyes lost to Barack Obama by the largest margin for the Illinois U.S. Senate race in history.[12]

    Oberweis's 2004 campaign was notable for a television commercial in which he flew in a helicopter over Chicago's Soldier Field and claimed enough illegal immigrants came into America in a week (10,000 a day) to fill the stadium's 61,500 seats.[13]

    During his 2004 Senate campaign, Oberweis appeared in television commercials for Oberweis Dairies. The Federal Election Commission ruled that this was an improper corporate contribution to the campaign, and fined Oberweis $21,000 for violation of campaign finance law.[14]

    2006 gubernatorial election

    In 2006, Oberweis sought the Republican nomination for Governor of Illinois. He started his campaign in April 2005. He lost in the primary, finishing second of five with 32%.[11] As part of his campaign, he supported amending the Illinois Constitution to define marriage as opposite-sex only.[15] The winner of the primary was Judy Baar Topinka, who was defeated by Democrat Rod Blagojevich in the general election 49.8%–39.3%, with Rich Whitney, the Green Party candidate, receiving a little over 10.3%.[11]

    2008 congressional elections

    When U.S. Representative Dennis Hastert resigned his seat (Illinois's 14th congressional district) on November 26, 2007, Oberweis ran to replace him. Oberweis was endorsed by Hastert.[16] He won the primary for the special election for the remainder of Hastert's unfinished term with 56%. He also won the primary for the general election for the next term, with 58%.[11]

    However, Oberweis lost the March special election to Democrat Bill Foster, getting 47% of the vote to Foster's 53%. He lost to Foster again in November, 58% to 42%.[11]

    Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee

    During the elections for the State Central Committee in March 2010, Jim Oberweis ran and won a seat on the Illinois Republican Party's State Central Committee representing the 14th Congressional District.[4][17] In 2013, as State Central Committeeman, Oberweis led the effort to oust former Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady after his controversial public support of same-sex marriage.[18][19] While Oberweis's efforts were unsuccessful, Brady eventually resigned because of the controversy.[20]

    Oberweis did not run again for the State Central Committee for the election in April 2014.[21]

    State senate

    In the 2012 general election, Oberweis won the 25th State Senate seat previously held by Chris Lauzen, his former GOP primary rival in the 2008 congressional race. He had announced his bid in September 2011.[22] He defeated his Democratic opponent, Corinne Pierog, 57.5%–42.5%.[23][24] In the 2016 general election, Oberweis again defeated Pierog, this time 54.7%–45.3%.[25]

    In October 2018, Oberweis was appointed as the Senate Republican Whip.[26][27] He did not run for re-election in 2020.

    Committee assignments

    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Environment and Conservation (Minority Spokesperson)
    • Executive
      • Subcommittee on Election Law
    • Labor (Minority Spokesperson)
    • Revenue
    • Transportation; Subcommittee on Election Law
      • Subcommittee on Capital

    2014 U.S. Senate election

    Oberweis was the Republican nominee for the 2014 Senate election, for the seat held by Democrat Dick Durbin.[28] He defeated Doug Truax in the Republican primary with 56% of the vote. He was defeated by Durbin in the November election.[29]

    2020 congressional elections

    Oberweis announced he would run again for Illinois's 14th congressional district, challenging Democratic incumbent Lauren Underwood.[30] On March 17, 2020, he won the Republican nomination, narrowly defeating six other candidates including fellow state Senator Sue Rezin, and businesswoman Catalina Lauf.[31][32]

    On November 4, Oberweis, leading by less than 900 votes in the incomplete vote count, declared himself the victor. This came despite the fact that the race had not been called by media outlets and there were still thousands of uncounted mail-in ballots.[33][34][35] That same day, Oberweis began sending out fundraising appeals to fund fees associated with a potential recount.[35]

    On November 12, the race was called by the Associated Press for Underwood.[36][37] Oberweis did not concede, and stated that he was considering all legal options, including a possible recount.[38]

    Jim Oberweis attended the congressional new member orientation on November 13.[39] He began calling for a "discovery recount" on November 18.[40]

    According to the official canvass by the Illinois State Board of Elections, Lauren Underwood received 203,209 votes (50.67 percent) and Jim Oberweis received 197,835 votes (49.33 percent).[41]

    In January 2021, Oberweis filed a notice of contest with the U.S. House of Representatives, alleging that irregularities in the vote recount would make him the winner of the election.[42] On May 12, 2021, the House rejected Oberweis' challenge.[43]

    Electoral history

    Illinois U.S. Senator (Class II) Republican Primary, 2002
    Party Candidate Votes %
    Republican Jim Durkin 378,010 45.81
    Republican James D. Oberweis 259,515 31.45
    Republican John Cox 187,706 22.75
    Total votes 825,231 100.0
    Illinois U.S. Senator (Class III) Republican Primary, 2004
    Party Candidate Votes %
    Republican Jack Ryan 234,791 35.48
    Republican Jim Oberweis 155,794 23.54
    Republican Steven J. Rauschenberger 132,655 20.04
    Republican Andy McKenna 97,238 14.69
    Republican Jonathan C. Wright 17,189 2.60
    Republican John Borling 13,390 2.02
    Republican Norm Hill 5,637 0.85
    Republican Chirinjeev Kathuria 5,110 0.77
    Total votes 661,804 100.0
    Illinois Governor Republican Primary, 2006
    Party Candidate Votes %
    Republican Judy Baar Topinka 280,701 38.15
    Republican Jim Oberweis 233,576 31.74
    Republican Bill Brady 135,370 18.40
    Republican Ron Gidwitz 80,068 10.88
    Republican Andy Martin 6,095 0.83
    Total votes 735,810 100.0
    Illinois 14th Congressional District Special Republican Primary, 2008
    Party Candidate Votes %
    Republican Jim Oberweis 41,980 56.02
    Republican Chris Lauzen 32,955 43.98
    Total votes 74,935 100.0
    Illinois 14th Congressional District Republican Primary, 2008
    Party Candidate Votes %
    Republican Jim Oberweis 44,462 56.36
    Republican Chris Lauzen 32,584 41.30
    Republican Michael J. Dilger 1,847 2.34
    Total votes 78,893 100.0
    Illinois 14th Congressional District Special Election, 2008
    Party Candidate Votes %
    Democratic Bill Foster 52,205 52.53
    Republican Jim Oberweis 47,180 47.47
    Total votes 99,385 100.0
    Illinois 14th Congressional District General Election, 2008
    Party Candidate Votes %
    Democratic Bill Foster (incumbent) 185,404 57.75
    Republican Jim Oberweis 135,653 42.25
    Total votes 321,057 100.0
    Illinois 25th State Senate District Republican Primary, 2012
    Party Candidate Votes %
    Republican Jim Oberweis 10,871 49.34
    Republican Dave Richmond 6,629 30.09
    Republican Richard C. Slocum 4,532 20.57
    Total votes 22,032 100.0
    Illinois 25th State Senate District General Election, 2012
    Party Candidate Votes %
    Republican Jim Oberweis 51,527 57.52
    Democratic Corinne M. Pierog 38,061 42.48
    Total votes 89,588 100.0
    Illinois U.S. Senator (Class II) Republican Primary, 2014
    Party Candidate Votes %
    Republican James D. "Jim" Oberweis 423,097 56.08
    Republican Douglas Lee Truax 331,237 43.91
    Republican Sherry Procarione (write-in) 54 0.01
    Total votes 754,388 100.0
    Illinois U.S. Senator (Class II) General Election, 2014
    Party Candidate Votes %
    Democratic Richard J. Durbin (incumbent) 1,929,637 53.55
    Republican James D. "Jim" Oberweis 1,538,522 42.69
    Libertarian Sharon Hansen 135,316 3.76
    Write-in votes Roger K. Davis 31 0.00
    Write-in votes Hilaire F. Shioura 12 0.00
    Write-in votes Sherry Procarione 1 0.00
    Total votes 3,603,519 100.0
    Illinois 25th State Senate District General Election, 2016
    Party Candidate Votes %
    Republican Jim Oberweis (incumbent) 54,636 54.66
    Democratic Corinne M. Pierog 45,317 45.34
    Total votes 99,953 100.0
    Illinois 14th Congressional District Republican Primary, 2020
    Party Candidate Votes %
    Republican Jim Oberweis 13,187 25.61
    Republican Sue Rezin 11,720 22.76
    Republican Catalina Lauf 10,365 20.13
    Republican Ted Gradel 6,864 13.33
    Republican Jim Marter 5,666 11.00
    Republican Jerry Evans 2,576 5.00
    Republican Anthony Catella 1,109 2.15
    Total votes 51,487 100.0
    Illinois 14th Congressional District General Election, 2020[41]
    Party Candidate Votes %
    Democratic Lauren Underwood (incumbent) 203,209 50.67
    Republican Jim Oberweis 197,835 49.33
    Write-in votes Joseph Monack 8 0.00
    Total votes 401,052 100.0

    Personal life

    Jim Oberweis and his first wife, Elaine, had five children together before divorcing in 2003.[6] He has two stepchildren with his second wife, Julie, and twenty grandchildren.[44][45]

    Oberweis is a Roman Catholic.[46]

    Oberweis is an avid chess player. In 2013, he had a USCF rating of 1926 (class A).[4] He supported the Fox Valley Chess Club for many years. He also served as President of the Illinois Chess Association for two years, as Illinois delegate to the USCF,[47] and as a trustee of the American Chess Foundation and the Chess Trust Fund.[3]

    References

    1. ↑ Dobosz, John. "Jim Oberweis: Big Profits In Small Caps". Forbes. Retrieved August 4, 2019. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
    2. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 18, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
    3. 1 2 3 "Alumni Hall of Fame - James D. Oberweis University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign". Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved February 12, 2008.
    4. 1 2 3 Dietrich, Matt (September 24, 2014). "Ice Cream and Politics: Jim Oberweis Fun Facts". Reboot Illinois. Archived from the original on October 23, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
    5. ↑ Sterrett, David (January 9, 2010). "Jim Oberweis gets back to business at family dairy". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
    6. 1 2 "A Senate story". University of Chicago. February 2004. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
    7. ↑ Lea Murphy (November 14, 1994). "Making a Big Moove After Troubles, Oberweis Dairy on Expansion Trail". Crain's Chicago Business.
    8. ↑ "Senator Jim Oberweis (R)". 99th Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
    9. ↑ Martha Leonard (November 26, 2004). "Oberweis looks to enter ice cream market". Business First of Columbus.
    10. ↑ "He's the Milk Dud No More - Oberweis Wins State Senate Seat". CBS2 Chicago. November 6, 2012.
    11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Illinois State Board of Elections". Elections.illinois.gov. Archived from the original on March 31, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
    12. ↑ "Keyes Concedes Says Obama Stands For Evil". Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on July 5, 2008.
    13. ↑ Ford, Liam; Avila, Oscar. "Oberweis ads rile immigrant groups". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on September 6, 2008.
    14. ↑ Archived December 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
    15. ↑ "Oberweis injects potentially divisive issue into GOP primary". Crain's Chicago Business. January 23, 2006. Archived from the original on May 15, 2006. Retrieved April 20, 2006.
    16. ↑ "Hastert endorses Oberweis". The Courier News. December 14, 2007.
    17. ↑ "Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee Members" (PDF). Digitalvictorycms.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
    18. ↑ Bondioli, Sara (April 21, 2014). "Illinois GOP Ousts Officials Who Opposed Former Chairman's Support Of Same-Sex Marriage". The Huffington Post. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
    19. ↑ Lester, Kerry (January 24, 2013). "Will Gay Marriage Stance Cost GOP Chairman His Job?". Daily Herald. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
    20. ↑ Preston, Mark (May 7, 2013). "Illinois GOP chair resigns, cites support for same-sex marriage as a reason". CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs. Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
    21. ↑ "Illinois GOP Announces 2014 Candidates for State Central Committee". Illinois Review. March 28, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
    22. ↑ http://www.chron.com/news/article/Jim-Oberweis-plans-to-seek-state-Senate-bid-2155181.php. Retrieved September 6, 2011. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
    23. ↑ "Official Vote: November 6, 2012 General Election" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 13, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
    24. ↑ "Election Results: General Election - 11/6/2012". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on November 20, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
    25. ↑ "Election Results: General Election - 11/8/2016". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on November 11, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
    26. ↑ "Oberweis reappointed to Senate Leadership Post". Senator Jim Oberweis. January 16, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
    27. ↑ "Local Legislators Appointed to House, Senate Leadership Roles". WSPY-FM. January 17, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
    28. ↑ Pearson, Rick (November 22, 2013). "Oberweis to run for U.S. Senate seat held by Durbin". Chicago Tribune.
    29. ↑ Skiba, Katherine & Kim Geiger (November 4, 2014) - "Sen. Durbin Charges to Victory, Will Serve Record 4th Term". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
    30. ↑ Pearson, Rick (February 18, 2019). "Dairy magnate Jim Oberweis launching GOP challenge to first-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
    31. ↑ Axelrod, Tal (March 20, 2020). "Jim Oberweis wins GOP primary to challenge Illinois Rep. Lauren Underwood". The Hill. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
    32. ↑ Farver, Lisa Marie (October 27, 2020). "Underwood vs. Oberweis 2020: What to Know". Patch. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
    33. ↑ O'Connell, Patrick M. (November 5, 2020). "Her opponent has claimed victory in a tight contest, but Rep. Lauren Underwood optimistic as mail ballots continue to be counted". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
    34. ↑ "GOP Candidate Jim Oberweis Declares Victory, But Democrat Lauren Underwood Does Not Concede In Tight 14th Congressional District Race". CBS 2 Chicago. November 5, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
    35. 1 2 Sweet, Lynn (November 4, 2020). "Jim Oberweis, Lauren Underwood outcome in limbo; Oberweis starts recount fundraising". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
    36. ↑ Associated Press [@AP_Politics] (November 12, 2020). "BREAKING: Democrat Lauren Underwood wins reelection to U.S. House in Illinois' 14th Congressional District. #APracecall at 2:10 p.m. CST. #Election2020
      #ILelection"       (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    37. ↑ Pearson, Rick (November 12, 2020). "AP Declares Democrat US Rep. Lauren Underwood Winner in Illinois' 14th District over Republican Jim Oberweis". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
    38. ↑ "Illinois Election Results: Lauren Underwood declares victory over Jim Oberweis in 14th District race". ABC7 Chicago. WLS-TV. November 12, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
    39. ↑ "Jim Oberweis Attends House New Member Orientation Despite Projected Loss In Illinois' 14th District". November 13, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
    40. ↑ Pearson, Rick (November 18, 2020). "With vote counting completed, Rep. Lauren Underwood declares victory. But Jim Oberweis wants a recount". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
    41. 1 2 "Official Canvass General Election November 3, 2020" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Elections. December 4, 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 6, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
    42. ↑ Pearson, Rick (January 5, 2021). "Alleging Voting Irregularities, State Sen. Jim Oberweis Contests Rep. Lauren Underwood's Reelection in U.S. House". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
    43. ↑ Pearson, Rick (May 13, 2021). "Rep. Lauren Underwood's Reelection Stands as US House Dismisses Challenge by Jim Oberweis". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
    44. ↑ "101st Illinois General Assembly". Retrieved February 19, 2019.
    45. ↑ "Family matters -- a correspondence with Jim Oberweis' daughter". Chicago Tribune. March 15, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
    46. ↑ Henderson, Harold - 15 Candidates! We Can Help--The Reader's Guide to the Big Showdown Association of Alternative Newsmedia, May 15, 2005
    47. ↑ "United States Chess Federation". June 1, 2007. Retrieved February 12, 2007.
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