Jim Oberweis

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. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Illinois, and then a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago.

Career

In 1968, Oberweis became a junior high school teacher at Waldo Junior High in Aurora, teaching math and science. 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. 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)

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.

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.

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.

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".

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%.

2004 U.S. Senate election

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

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.

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.

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.

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%. 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%.

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. 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%.

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%.

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. 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. While Oberweis's efforts were unsuccessful, Brady eventually resigned because of the controversy.

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

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. He defeated his Democratic opponent, Corinne Pierog, 57.5%–42.5%. In the 2016 general election, Oberweis again defeated Pierog, this time 54.7%–45.3%.

In October 2018, Oberweis was appointed as the Senate Republican Whip. 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. He defeated Doug Truax in the Republican primary with 56% of the vote. He was defeated by Durbin in the November election.

2020 congressional elections

Main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois#District 14

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

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. That same day, Oberweis began sending out fundraising appeals to fund fees associated with a potential recount.

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

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

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).

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. On May 12, 2021, the House rejected Oberweis's challenge.

2026 congressional election

Main article: 2026 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida#District 19

In March 2025, Oberweis became the first Republican to announce their congressional campaign to replace Byron Donalds in the 2026 election in Florida's 19th congressional district.

Electoral history

Personal life

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

Oberweis is a Roman Catholic.

Oberweis is an avid chess player. In 2013, he had a USCF rating of 1926 (class A). and as a trustee of the American Chess Foundation and the Chess Trust Fund.

References

References

1. Dobosz, John. (2003-06-09). "Jim Oberweis: Big Profits In Small Caps". Forbes.
2. (Spring 1999). "Jim Oberweis: Specialist in extraordinarily rapidly growing companies". Computer Science Alumni Association, University of Illinois.
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4. Sterrett, David. (January 9, 2010). "Jim Oberweis gets back to business at family dairy". Crain's Chicago Business.
5. Lea Murphy. (November 14, 1994). "Making a Big Moove After Troubles, Oberweis Dairy on Expansion Trail". Crain's Chicago Business.
6. [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=99&MemberID=2220 "Senator Jim Oberweis (R)"]. ''99th Illinois General Assembly''. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
7. Martha Leonard. (November 26, 2004). "Oberweis looks to enter ice cream market". Business First of Columbus.
8. (November 6, 2012). "He's the Milk Dud No More - Oberweis Wins State Senate Seat". CBS2 Chicago.
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10. "Keyes Concedes Says Obama Stands For Evil". Indianapolis Star.
11. "Oberweis ads rile immigrant groups". Chicago Tribune.
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13. (January 23, 2006). "Oberweis injects potentially divisive issue into GOP primary". Crain's Chicago Business.
14. (December 14, 2007). "Hastert endorses Oberweis". The Courier News.
15. (September 24, 2014). "Ice Cream and Politics: Jim Oberweis Fun Facts". Reboot Illinois.
16. "Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee Members". Digitalvictorycms.com.
17. (April 21, 2014). "Illinois GOP Ousts Officials Who Opposed Former Chairman's Support Of Same-Sex Marriage". The Huffington Post.
18. (January 24, 2013). "Will Gay Marriage Stance Cost GOP Chairman His Job?". [[Daily Herald (Arlington Heights).
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20. (March 28, 2014). "Illinois GOP Announces 2014 Candidates for State Central Committee". Illinois Review.
21. (2011-09-04). "GOP's Oberweis plans to seek state Senate bid". [[The Southern Illinoisan]].
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26. (January 17, 2019). "Local Legislators Appointed to House, Senate Leadership Roles". [[WSPY-FM]].
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28. Skiba, Katherine & Kim Geiger (November 4, 2014) - [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-illinois-senate-race-dick-durbin-jim-oberweis-20141104-story.html "Sen. Durbin Charges to Victory, Will Serve Record 4th Term"]. ''Chicago Tribune''. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
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30. (March 20, 2020). "Jim Oberweis wins GOP primary to challenge Illinois Rep. Lauren Underwood". [[The Hill (newspaper).
31. Farver, Lisa Marie. (October 27, 2020). "Underwood vs. Oberweis 2020: What to Know". Patch.
32. (5 November 2020). "Her opponent has claimed victory in a tight contest, but Rep. Lauren Underwood optimistic as mail ballots continue to be counted". Chicago Tribune.
33. (5 November 2020). "GOP Candidate Jim Oberweis Declares Victory, But Democrat Lauren Underwood Does Not Concede In Tight 14th Congressional District Race". CBS 2 Chicago.
34. (4 November 2020). "Jim Oberweis, Lauren Underwood outcome in limbo; Oberweis starts recount fundraising".
35. Associated Press. (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".
36. Pearson, Rick. (November 12, 2020). "AP Declares Democrat US Rep. Lauren Underwood Winner in Illinois' 14th District over Republican Jim Oberweis". Chicago Tribune.
37. (12 November 2020). "Illinois Election Results: Lauren Underwood declares victory over Jim Oberweis in 14th District race". WLS-TV.
38. (13 November 2020). "Jim Oberweis Attends House New Member Orientation Despite Projected Loss In Illinois' 14th District".
39. (18 November 2020). "With vote counting completed, Rep. Lauren Underwood declares victory. But Jim Oberweis wants a recount.". Chicago Tribune.
40. (December 4, 2020). "Official Canvass General Election November 3, 2020". Illinois State Board of Elections.
41. Pearson, Rick. (January 5, 2021). "Alleging Voting Irregularities, State Sen. Jim Oberweis Contests Rep. Lauren Underwood's Reelection in U.S. House". Chicago Tribune.
42. Pearson, Rick. (May 13, 2021). "Rep. Lauren Underwood's Reelection Stands as US House Dismisses Challenge by Jim Oberweis". Chicago Tribune.
43. (March 11, 2025). "Jim Oberweis becomes first Republican to file for Byron Donalds’ seat in Congress". Florida Politics.
44. (February 2004). "A Senate story". University of Chicago.
45. "101st Illinois General Assembly".
46. (March 15, 2008). "Family matters -- a correspondence with Jim Oberweis' daughter". Chicago Tribune.
47. Henderson, Harold - [https://archive.today/20120707080957/http://altweeklies.com/alternative/AltWeeklies/Story?oid=oid:146687 15 Candidates! We Can Help--The Reader's Guide to the Big Showdown] ''Association of Alternative Newsmedia'', May 15, 2005
48. (June 1, 2007). "United States Chess Federation".