2008 Illinois's 14th congressional district special election

none February 2026 September 2023 2008 Illinois's 14th congressional district special election Illinois by-election no 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois#District 14 2006 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois#District 14 November 2008 Illinois's 14th congressional district 2008 03 08 File:Bill Foster, official portrait, 111th Congress (cropped).jpg 150x150px Bill Foster Democratic Party (United States) 52,205 52.53% File:Jim oberweis.jpg Jim Oberweis Republican Party (United States) 47,180 47.47% 2008 IL-14 special election results.svg 250px County resultsFoster: #8da9e2 50–60%Oberweis: #ed8783 50–60% #e55651 60–70% U.S. Representative Dennis Hastert Republican Party (United States) Bill Foster Democratic Party (United States) After incumbent United States Representative Dennis Hastert, a Republican who had previously served as the 51st Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, resigned from his House seat representing Illinois's 14th congressional district on November 26, 2007,Hastert submits official resignation letter https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna21983195 Associated Press 2007-11-26 2008-03-09 a special election was held to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the 110th United States Congress. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich scheduled the special election to occur on March 8, 2008. The Democratic and Republican parties concurrently held special primary elections on February 5, 2008. After winning the primary, Democrat Bill Foster won the election on March 8, 2008. Democratic primary Candidates Bill Foster, physicist and business owner John Laesch, Democratic nominee for this district in 2006 Jotham Stein, attorney Results Democratic Primary resultshttp://www.elections.illinois.gov/ElectionInformation/VoteTotalsList.aspx?ElectionType=SP&ElectionID=23&SearchType=OfficeSearch&OfficeID=4565&QueryType=Office& Ballots Cast 2011-06-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20120319062430/http://www.elections.illinois.gov/ElectionInformation/VoteTotalsList.aspx?ElectionType=SP&ElectionID=23&SearchType=OfficeSearch&OfficeID=4565&QueryType=Office& 2012-03-19 dead Bill Foster Democratic Party (United States) 32,982 49.60 John Laesch Democratic Party (United States) 28,433 42.76 Jotham Stein Democratic Party (United States) 5,082 7.64 66,497 100.00 Republican primary Candidates Jim Oberweis, 2002 Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, 2004 Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, 2006 Republican candidate for Governor, owner of Oberweis Dairy Chris Lauzen, Illinois State Senator Campaign Chris Lauzen officially began his campaign on September 19, 2007.Josh Kraushaar Conservative Enters Race For Hastert's Seat https://www.cbsnews.com/news/conservative-enters-race-for-hasterts-seat/ Politico CBS News 2007-09-15 2008-03-09 Rudy Clai officially entered the race on October 7,Andre Salles Entertainment promoter is 7th candidate in 14th District race http://blogs.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconblog/clai.pdf The Beacon News Sun-Times News Group 2007-09-30 2008-03-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20080910000938/http://blogs.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconblog/clai.pdf 2008-09-10 dead but withdrew less than a month later, citing dysfunction within the Illinois Republican Party. The race was very competitive between Lauzen and Oberweis. On January 15, 2008, they debated at Aurora University. During the debate, Oberweis raised questions regarding International Profit Associates, a company that donated $100,000 to Lauzen's campaign and was being investigated for widespread sexual harassment and fraud.James Kimberly Oberweis slams Lauzen, citing delay in return of campaign contribution http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-oberweis_16jan16,1,5962746.story Chicago Tribune 2008-01-16 2008-03-09 The Chicago Tribune endorsed Oberweis, stating that had a better command on national issues.More choices for Congress http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-0116edit2jan16,0,1151742.story Editorial Chicago Tribune 2008-01-16 2008-03-09 Dennis Hastert endorsed Oberweis on December 13, and Kevin Burns subsequently withdrew his candidacy.http://www.burns4congress.com/Home3.aspx Kevin Burns for Congress 2008-01-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20071231171018/http://www.burns4congress.com/Home3.aspx 2007-12-31 dead Lauzen received endorsements from the Aurora Beacon News, the Kane County Chronicle, the DeKalb Daily Chronicle and the Chicago Daily Herald. Results Republican Primary resultshttp://www.elections.illinois.gov/ElectionInformation/VoteTotalsList.aspx?ElectionType=SP&ElectionID=23&SearchType=OfficeSearch&OfficeID=4565&QueryType=Office& Ballots Cast 2011-06-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20120319062430/http://www.elections.illinois.gov/ElectionInformation/VoteTotalsList.aspx?ElectionType=SP&ElectionID=23&SearchType=OfficeSearch&OfficeID=4565&QueryType=Office& 2012-03-19 dead Jim Oberweis Republican Party (United States) 41,980 56.02 Chris Lauzen Republican Party (United States) 32,955 43.98 74,935 100.00 General election Negative advertisement campaign The race for the 14th district was marked by intense negative campaigning between the regular primary elections of February 5 and the special elections of March 8. Oberweis, with $2.3 million of his own money and an additional $1 million provided by the National Republican Congressional Committee, attacked Foster on his various political stances.http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11F4F017F68175F0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 Race to replace Hastert is in national spotlight - But November brings a rematch 2008-03-09 2008-03-09 Kimberly, James Chicago Tribune Foster, with $1.8 million of his own money and an additional $1 million provided by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, countered that Oberweis had employed illegal immigrants in his retail stores. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama appeared in a television ad for Foster that ran immediately prior to the special election. John McCain endorsed Oberweis.http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11F49DF3AEE06D60&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 Vote today, but it's just Round One 2008-03-08 2008-03-09 Chicago Tribune Kimberly, James Endorsements The Chicago Tribune endorsed Bill Foster for the seat in its March 4, 2008 edition based on Oberweis' history of "nasty, smug, condescending ... and dishonest" campaigning, and Foster's position that he would be a Blue Dog Democrat.http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11F34C73E7C15670&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 For Congress: Bill Foster Chicago Tribune 2008-03-04 2008-03-09 Chicago Tribune Editorial Board The Chicago Sun-Times endorsed Oberweis as "forceful and informed", painting Foster as "poorly informed" and unable to discuss specific issues in depth.http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11F3EE1161DAFA18&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 Jim Oberweis for the U.S. House Chicago Sun-Times 2008-03-06 2008-03-09 Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board Results Illinois's 14th congressional district special election, 2008http://www.elections.illinois.gov/ElectionInformation/VoteTotalsList.aspx?ElectionType=SE&ElectionID=24&SearchType=OfficeSearch&OfficeID=4566&QueryType=Office& Ballots Cast 2011-06-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20120319062434/http://www.elections.illinois.gov/ElectionInformation/VoteTotalsList.aspx?ElectionType=SE&ElectionID=24&SearchType=OfficeSearch&OfficeID=4566&QueryType=Office& 2012-03-19 dead Democratic Party (United States) Bill Foster 52,205 52.53 Republican Party (United States) Jim Oberweis 47,180 47.47 99,385 100.00 Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) The election of Foster over Oberweis ended a 20-year Republican streak of holding the seat. The election of Foster also brought speculation that Republicans would lose three more seats up for re-election in the November general election, resulting in a 14–5 Democratic advantage in Congress for Illinois.Chicago Tribune 2008-03-10 2008-03-10 Pearson, Rick Foster win a big blow to GOP - Loss of Hastert's seat, Obama's rise could further hurt party in other races http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11F542F975913220&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 Observers cited several factors explaining Foster's victory, including rapid suburbanization of Kane and Kendall Counties, Foster's position regarding the expansion of health-care and his support of immigration-reform, including a path to citizenship, and Lauzen's refusal to endorse Oberweis following the Republican primary. In contrast, Oberweis' campaign tactics were criticized, including the overuse of mass mailings and automated phone calls to remind voters of the special election. Reporter John Fund of The Wall Street Journal pointed to the failure of Lauzen to endorse Oberweis, Hastert's preference for "self-funded" but unskilled candidates, and local reviews that the NRCC ads were "nasty," "stupid," "largely incomprehensible" and "factless" as additional reasons why Foster won the seat. By contrast, Fund noted that the Democratic party spent much of its funding on an ad featuring Obama touting Foster's credentials as a physicist and problem-solver.The Wall Street Journal Fund, John 2008-03-10 2008-03-10 Reagan Country Votes Democratic https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120511425577623511?mod=googlenews_wsj Governor Rod Blagojevich had scheduled the special election for Saturday, March 8 in an attempt to increase voter turnout. However, the election drew a low voter turnout, with only 22 percent of registered voters participating.Sarkauskas, Susan Daily Herald Foster takes Hastert's seat http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=150308 2008-03-09 2008-03-10Foster takes seat from GOP - Democrat to succeed Hastert in Republican stronghold 2008-03-09 2008-03-10 Kimberly, James Chicago Tribune http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11F4F019DC8D5B50&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 Although it was initially thought that Foster would not be sworn in until April due to the need to count absentee ballots before the election would be certified, he took the oath of office on March 11.http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=151577&src=5 Daily Herald Foster sworn into Congress 2008-03-11 2008-03-12 Hague, Leslie On his first day in office he cast the deciding votehttp://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll121.xml FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 121 2008-03-11 to keep from tabling an ethics bill that would create an independent outside panel to investigate ethics complaints against House members.http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/03/first_day_swing_vote_for_new_r.html First day, swing vote for new Rep. Bill Foster Jim Tankersley The Baltimore Sun dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080317122525/http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/03/first_day_swing_vote_for_new_r.html 2008-03-17 Foster's victory was the first time a House seat flipped parties in a special election since Democrat Stephanie Herseth Sandlin won the open South Dakota at-large seat of Republican Bill Janklow in June 2004.http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000002684811 Unusual Party Flip in Illinois Special Election 2008-03-10 2008-03-10 Giroux, Greg CQ Politics https://web.archive.org/web/20081109201439/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000002684811 2008-11-09 dead See also List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois 2008 Louisiana's 6th congressional district special election 2008 Mississippi's 1st congressional district special election References 30em Illinois 14 Illinois 2008 14 Illinois 2008 14 2008 14 Special Illinois 14 Special United States House of Representatives 14 Special United States House of Representatives 2008 14