Bob Dold: Candidate for Congress, 10th District


WTTW’s 2016 Voters’ Guide to the General Election is an online resource designed to inform voters about the candidates running for office in the Nov. 8 election.

Candidates were given two minutes to tell voters where they stand on the issues, why they feel they are best qualified and what they intend to do if elected or re-elected. The messages were recorded at the WTTW studios at no cost to the candidates. The Voters’ Guide is an online version of Candidate Free Time, pioneered by WTTW in the 1992 race for U.S. Senate. This year’s Candidate Free Time is underwritten in part by the League of Women Voters of Cook County and the City Club of Chicago.

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Candidate Free Time is underwritten in part by the League of Women Voters of Cook County and the City Club of ChicagoCandidate Free Time is underwritten in part by the League of Women Voters of Cook County and the City Club of Chicago

About this candidate:

Name: Bob Dold
Party: Republican
Born: June 23, 1969
Residence: Kenilworth
Family: Danielle (spouse); Harper, Bobby, Honor (children)
Occupation: 10th Congressional District of Illinois Congressman
Political experience: 10th Congressional District of Illinois Congressman

Website: doldforcongress.com

Candidate Q&A

What is your vision for this office?

Our community deserves a thoughtful and independent leader that is dedicated to bringing people together and finding positive solutions to the biggest challenges of our day. As the only small business owner in this race and the father of three young children, my top priority is making our community safe, healthy and strong.

I take tremendous pride in the fact that I’ve consistently been ranked among the most bipartisan, independent and effective Members of Congress. In Congress, I’ve worked hard to bring people together and advance proposals that make a difference in the Tenth Congressional District. Among the successes have been bipartisan bills signed into law to improve education, spur small business growth, promote medical research, protect seniors from Medicare cuts, and improve our transportation infrastructure.

I am particularly proud of my work to combat prescription drug and heroin abuse. Earlier this year, I introduced a bill called Lali’s Law, named in memory of Alex Laliberte from Buffalo Grove who overdosed and passed away at the age of 20. The bill—written with Alex’s sister Chelsea—expands access to an overdose antidote called naloxone, which has already saved more than 100 lives in Lake County alone. President Obama signed Lali’s Law 5 months after we introduced the bill, which is a testament to what we can accomplish when we set aside partisanship and work for the people in our community.

Of course, there's still far too much partisan gridlock and much more that needs to be done. The bottom line is that if anything is going to get done, we are going to need effective, bipartisan leadership. We know we can accomplish great things when we work together and commit to changing a fundamentally broken Washington. I'll always be a forceful, independent and effective advocate for our district.

What is the most pressing issue facing constituents, and how can you help address it?

Over the last 2 years, I’ve partnered with local leaders and community organizations to hold nearly 1,000 events in our community, including dozens of town halls and 5 job fairs. The message I hear over and over is that the number one issue for the people in our community is still the economy.

I am running to continue representing the 10th District because the stakes are too high to fall back on ineffective leadership, partisan politics and empty rhetoric. My track record as one of the most independent and bipartisan Members of Congress proves that I will work tirelessly, with both Democrats and Republicans, to tackle the difficult issues we face.

Over the past two years, we have broken through the gridlock to make progress on some important economic issues. We acted to ensure small businesses and families have the tax certainty they need to create a budget. We also secured the first long-term investment in infrastructure in more than a decade. Locally, we helped recruit new businesses to our area that have created more than 100 new jobs in the 10th Congressional District.

Critical to improving our economy is expanding opportunity for everyone in our community. This means taking on the big challenges, like helping lift individuals out of poverty, controlling our national debt, reducing taxes, passing immigration reform, improving our schools and addressing the student loan debt crisis. I have introduced and supported numerous bills to address these issues, and I will continue to advocate for them.

In short, I am running to continue providing bipartisan, effective leadership that amplifies the independent voice of our district.

Candidate Statement

Hello, I’m Congressman Bob Dold.

As a father of three young children and the only small business owner in this race, my top priority is ensuring our community is safe, healthy and strong. During my time in Congress, I’ve worked with leaders on both sides of the aisle to champion a number of bills signed into law by the President that are already making a real difference in people’s lives. That’s why I have consistently been rated by nonpartisan organizations as one of the most, independent, bipartisan and effective Members of Congress.

For example, because of our bipartisan efforts, we are tackling the heroin and prescription drug epidemic head on in Congress and our community. After meeting Chelsea Laliberte, who grew up in Buffalo Grove and lost her brother Alex to a heroin overdose, we worked together to write and pass Lali’s Law in Alex’s memory. This July, President Obama signed our bill into law.

I am also fully committed to putting the safety of our community and our country first. That’s why I continue to believe that the disastrous Iran nuclear agreement is a mistake that will haunt our national security for generations. While my opponent flip-flopped on his position and now 100% supports implementing the agreement, I will never put partisan political concerns ahead of our national security. The stakes are simply too high.

Here’s the bottom line: if anything is going to get accomplished, we are going to need effective, bipartisan leadership to break through the gridlock.

What excites me about this campaign is that voters have an opportunity to directly compare my record of independent leadership with the record of my opponent, who was rated among the least effective Members of Congress.

While he floods the airwaves with dishonesty about his record and mine, I am focused on advancing bipartisan solutions that are needed to help move our country forward. Our community deserves a thoughtful leader that is dedicated to bringing people together. I promise to continue to be a forceful, independent and effective voice for our district.

It is truly an honor to serve you in Congress, and on November 8th, I humbly ask for your vote.

See more candidates in this district and other House races

Return to our 2016 Voters’ Guide to the General Election


Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors