Kendall County Times

Vowing to “explore every legal option available,” state Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) is declaring his 14th Congressional District race against incumbent Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville) as far from over.

In keeping with his vow of persistence, Oberweis was recently in Washington D.C. to attend new member orientation.  

“I attended at the invitation of the Bipartisan House Committee on Administration,” he told the Kendall County Times. “I was advised to go in order to be prepared to serve the people of the 14th Congressional District should I eventually be declared the winner since the orientation is only done once a year. The Associated Press calling the race in for Lauren Underwood does not create any finality.”

With unofficial election results showing him trailing Underwood by a count of 202,649 to 197,476, or a difference of 5,173 votes. Oberweis said he plans to make sure every legal vote is counted and the race certified. The veteran lawmaker built up an early lead over Underwood on election night, but as more mail-in votes began to trickle in, that margin ultimately evaporate.

“Once the election is certified, there will be a discovery recount initiated and from there a possible full recount,” Oberweis added. “We are going to explore every legal option available to ensure that every legal vote is counted.

According to spokesperson Travis Akin, the new member’s orientation had long been on Oberweis’ schedule and there were other candidates there in similar situations.

Now winding up his eighth year of serving in the state Senate, Oberweis has been a candidate for Congress on three other occasions and in 2006 was a Republican candidate for governor.