Robert Dold

Robert Dold
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 10th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2015
Preceded by	Brad Schneider
Succeeded by	Brad Schneider (Elect)
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Mark Kirk
Succeeded by	Brad Schneider
Personal details
Born	Robert James Dold, Jr. June 23, 1969 Evanston, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Danielle Dold
Children	3
Residence	Kenilworth, Illinois
Alma mater	Denison University Indiana University Northwestern University
Religion	Christianity
Website	Campaign website Official website

Robert James "Bob" Dold, Jr.^[1] (born June 23, 1969) is the U.S. Representative for Illinois's 10th congressional district, having served since 2015. He previously served from 2011 to 2013. He is a member of the Republican Party.^[2] Prior to his election, Dold ran his family-owned business, Rose Pest Solutions.^[3] In 2010, Dold defeated Democratic Party nominee Dan Seals to replace Republican incumbent Mark Kirk in the U.S. House of Representatives. Dold was narrowly defeated by Democrat Brad Schneider in 2012, but regained the seat in 2014, defeating Schneider in a rematch. He was again defeated by Schneider in 2016 in a third contest between the two.

Early life, education, and career

Dold was born in Evanston, Illinois, the son of Judith Gail (née Kelley) and Robert James Dold. His ancestry includes German, Swedish, Irish, Scottish, and English.^[4] He graduated from New Trier High School where he was quarterback of the football team and captain of the wrestling and lacrosse teams.^[5] He earned a BA degree from Denison University where he served as President of the Campus Governance Association and acted as a member of Beta Theta Pi, a JD degree from Indiana University where he was selected by his classmates to give the commencement address, and an MBA degree from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.^[6]

Dold was an intern in the administration of Vice President Dan Quayle.^[7] He also clerked for a New York State Judge and served as an investigative counsel for the Republican-led House Government Reform and Oversight Committee.^[8]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2010

In his first radio ad of the general election campaign, Dold described himself as a small business owner, fiscal conservative and social moderate.^[9] Dold was endorsed by the Chicago Tribune,^[10] whose editorial page editor, R. Bruce Dold, is not related to Bob Dold.^[11] The US Chamber of Commerce^[12] and the Electrical Contractors' Association^[13] also endorsed him. Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani^[12] and president of Americans for Tax Reform Grover Norquist^[14] campaigned for Dold. After reporting nearly equal fund-raising for the second quarter,^[15] Dold's fund-raising outpaced Seals' in the third quarter. Dold began the final quarter with more cash on hand than Seals.^[16] At the request of the Federal Election Commission, the Dold campaign amended its second quarter filing in September 2010 to reflect debts and expenditures that had been incurred in the second quarter but had not yet been billed when the filing period ended.^[17]

2012

The National Journal's Cook Political Report named Dold one of the top 10 Republicans most vulnerable to redistricting in 2012^[18] with the 10th becoming more Democratic following redistricting. The endorsement of Mark Kirk, who is popular in the district, was expected to help Dold.^[19] Dold had a strong cash-on-hand advantage over his opponent Brad Schneider.^[20][21] Dold earned the endorsement of the Chicago Tribune and Daily Herald.^[22][23] Schneider defeated Dold 51%–49%, a difference of just 3,000 votes.^[24]

2014

On May 8, 2013, Dold announced in an e-mail to supporters that he would run for his old seat in 2014.^[25] He was actively recruited to run again.^[26] The race was ranked the #7 most likely flip for 2014 House rematches.^[27] Dold won the rematch and took office at the start of the 114th Congress.

2016

Dold ran for re-election in 2016. He faced a rematch with Democrat Brad Schneider in the general election. Dold was defeated by Schneider, who received 52% of the vote.^[28]

Dold was endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBT civil rights organization. In 2014, the organization had endorsed Schneider in his unsuccessful campaign against Dold.^[29] Dold was also endorsed by The Chicago Tribune^[30] and The Chicago Sun-Times.^[31]

Dold, who did not endorse Republican nominee Donald Trump in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, said he would instead write in an alternative candidate's name.^[32]

Tenure

Reputation

Dold is a moderate Republican with a centrist voting record in Congress.^[33][34][35] The non-partisan organization GovTrack has ranked Dold in the political center of Congress.^[36] National Journal did a comprehensive study of key votes in the House, ranking Dold as one of the most independent members of Congress.^[37] Dold is an original member of the No Labels movement which, Dold stated, he hoped would help to end the gridlock in Washington, DC.^[38] Dold is a member of the Tuesday Group, an informal caucus of moderate Republicans in the U.S. House. In 2015, Dold was elected co-chair of the Tuesday Group.^[39][40] An editorial in The Daily Herald noted Dold’s spirit of bipartisanship and called for more Bob Dolds in Congress.^[41] According to Roll Call, Dold has moved further to the center during his second term in Congress.^[42] In fact, in 2015, The Lugar Center, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit founded by former Senator Richard Lugar released a Bipartisan Index in cooperation with Georgetown University, ranking Congressman Dold the fifth most bipartisan congressman (out of 438) in the 114th Congress. ^[43]

Political positions

Dold supports abortion rights.^[44] In 2012, Dold introduced H.R. 5650, the Protecting Women’s Access to Health Care Act, which prevents lawmakers from blocking funds to Planned Parenthood.^[45] He has voiced support for stem cell research.^[46]

Dold voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which permanently extended most of the Bush middle class tax cuts.^[47]

He has stated his support for gay marriage and immigration reform.^[48] He became the first House Republican to support the Equality Act, which would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include a ban on discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.^[49]

Regarding the Affordable Care Act, he has stated his desire to improve the law rather than fight to repeal or defund it.^[48] Dold has said the Affordable Care Act was right to require insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions and to allow students to stay on a parent's insurance to age 26.^[50] Upon his return to the House in 2015, Dold became one of just three Republican Congressmen to vote against repeal of the Affordable Care Act - the first time any elected Republicans at the federal level voted against such a measure.^[51]

Dold supports gun control measures.^[52] In 2015, he signed onto a bipartisan bill that would expand background checks for gun purchasers.^[42] He accepts the scientific consensus on climate change and believes steps should be taken to address the issue.^[53][54]

In 2016, Dold introduced a bill to create a grant to expand the availability of naloxone, a heroin overdose antidote.^[55]

Personnel

Upon taking office in 2011, Dold hired former lobbyist Eric Burgeson, who grew up in Illinois’ 10th district, as his congressional Chief of Staff.^[56] Burgeson and Dold had previously worked together on Sen. Bob Dole's 1996 presidential campaign.^[57] Dold instituted a policy that "staff may not work on matters of substance with former clients."^[56] In his second term in office, his chief of staff is James Slepian.^[58]

Committee assignments

Dold was originally appointed to the Committee on Financial Services for the 114th Congress, but after the resignation of fellow Illinois Republican Aaron Schock, Dold was chosen to replace him on the powerful Ways and Means Committee.^[59]

• Committee on Ways and Means
  • Subcommittee on Human Resources
  • Subcommittee on Social Security

Previous

• Committee on Financial Services
  • Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises
  • Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity

Personal life

Dold is married and has three children.^[60] Dold resides in Kenilworth, Illinois and runs Rose Pest Solutions, the oldest pest control company in the country.^[61][62] Dold attends Kenilworth Union Church and is a scoutmaster for Kenilworth Boy Scout Troop #13.^[63]

References

1. "Representative Robert James Dold (Robert) (R-Illinois, 10th) – Biography from". LegiStorm. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
2. "Seals concedes congressional race in 10th District". ABC News. 3 November 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-03.
3. "Rose Pest Solutions". Rosepestcontrol.com. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
4. "Bob Dold ancestry". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
5. "Meet Bob". Dold for Congress. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
6. Congressman Bob Dold - website of the Republican Party
7. Stiefel, Lynne (20 January 2010). "Former veep weighs in". Pioneer Local. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
8. Small businessman's roots run deep in district, Lynn Stiefel, Pioneer Press, January 7, 2010
9. Dold Launches First Radio Ad, Dold for Congress Press Release, Chicago GOP, July 21, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
10. "For the US House". Chicago Tribune. 7 October 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-08.
11. "Come on, Mr. Seals". Chicago Tribune. 25 October 2010. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
12. , Pioneer Press, Sept. 13, 2010
13. Political Briefs, Lake County News-Sun, July 20, 2010
14. New ads by Foster, NRCC; Norquist endorses Dold; Nazi smear, Rich Miller, The Capitol Fax Blog, September 20, 2010
15. Dold, Seals tied in second quarter fund-raising in Illinois 10th House district, Lynn Sweet, Chicago Sun-Times, July 15, 2010
16. Lynne Stiefel (18 October 2010). "10th Congress District: Show me the money". Pioneer Press. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
17. Candidate's campaign finance called into question FEC looking into Republican Bob Dold's campaign funds, Randi Belisomo, WGN News, September 30, 2010
18. David Wasserman and Julia Edwards (April 15, 2011). "Top 10 Republicans Most Vulnerable to Redistricting". Cook Political Report. National Journal. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
19. McClelland, Edward (March 23, 2012). "Handicapping The Congressional Races". NBC Chicago. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
20. Lissau, Russell (February 2, 2012). "Sheyman, Schneider lead Democratic candidates in 10th District cash race". Daily Herald.
21. "Sheyman Brings a 'Truly Progressive Voice'". Buffalo Grove Patch. March 7, 2012.
22. "Searching for solutions". Chicago Tribune. October 7, 2012.
23. "Endorsement: Dold over Schneider in 10th Congressional District". Daily Herald. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
24. "2014 Election Results Senate: Map by State, Live Midterm Voting Updates". POLITICO. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
25. "Dold out to reclaim north suburban congressional seat". Chicago Tribune. May 9, 2013.
26. Lester, Kerry (15 April 2013). "Dold being recruited by top GOP to run again in 10th". Daily Herald. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
27. "Ranking Potential Flips for 2014 House Rematches". Roll Call. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
28. Skiba, Katherine (November 9, 2016). "Schneider bests Dold in 10th District race; Krishnamoorthi wins in 8th". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
29. "Morning Spin: Kirk: Trump needs me re-elected over Duckworth". Chicago Tribune. May 18, 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
30. "First day of Tribune endorsements for U.S. House seats in Illinois". The Chicago Tribune. October 7, 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
31. "Endorsement: Bob Dold goes for the smart middle ground". Chicago Sun-Times. October 13, 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
32. Steinhauer, Jennifer (June 15, 2015). "The 5 Types of Trump-Averse Republicans". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
33. O'Keefe, Ed; Sullivan, Sean (2014-01-24). "The Fix's top 10 House race rematches of 2014". Washington Post. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
34. Steinhauer, Jennifer (2012-06-18). "2 Legislators on Tough Turf Try Delicate Run Down the Middle". New York Times. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
35. Steiner, Keenan; Harper, Jake (2012-08-21). "House freshmen in tight races: How many first-termers will be one-termers?". Sunlight Foundation. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
36. Archived March 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
37. National Journal, February 25, 2012, Pages, 10–49
38. "Robert Dold: Candidate Profile". Daily Herald. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
39. "'Moderate' is now a dirty word for some House Republicans". Crain's Chicago Business. January 9, 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
40. Joseph, Cameron (11-10-2013). "Illinois Republican eyes return to Congress". The Hill. Retrieved 12 September 2014. Check date values in: |date= (help)
41. Daily Herald Editorial Board (July 29, 2011). "Compromise not a bad word on debt". Daily Herald.
42. Cahn, Emily (March 9, 2015). "A House Republican Moves Closer to Middle". Roll Call. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
43. "The Lugar Center - McCourt School Bipartisan Index". Washington, D.C.: The Lugar Center. March 7, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
44. Ford, Quinn (11-6-2012). "In 10th district, first-term Republican Bob Dold tries to hold off challenger Brad Schneider". WBEZ. Retrieved 12 September 2014. Check date values in: |date= (help)
45. Bassett, Laura (5-9-2012). "Bob Dold Introduces Bill To Protect Planned Parenthood Funding". Huffington Post. Retrieved 12 September 2014. Check date values in: |date= (help)
46. Lissau, Russell (2010-08-25). "10th Dist. candidates back stem cell research, oppose injunction". Daily Herald. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
47. McClelland, Edward (2 January 2013). "How Illinois Legislators Voted on Fiscal Cliff Bill". NBC Chicago. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
48. Joseph, Camerson (10 November 2013). "Illinois Republican eyes return to Congress". The Hill. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
49. "Illinois Republican becomes first in party to back LGBT rights bill". The Hill. 15 Jan 2016. Retrieved 15 Jan 2016.
50. Pearson, Rick (8-9-2012). "Dold, Schneider clash on abortion, gay marriage, health care". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 12 September 2014. Check date values in: |date= (help)
51. "Dold one of three Republicans to oppose Obamacare repeal". Daily Herald. February 4, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
52. Condon, Stephanie (2012-10-17). "Bloomberg super PAC supports gun control, gay rights". CBS News. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
53. James, Frank (2014-04-22). "Green GOP Group Caught Between 'Rock And A Hard Place'". NPR. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
54. Kiely, Eugene (2013-04-26). "Democrats Distort Vote on Climate Change". FactCheck.org. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
55. Wilson, Marie (February 22, 2016). "Dold pushes to expand availability of heroin overdose antidote". Daily Herald. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
56. Daniel Newhauser (5 January 2011). "Outsiders Choose Hill Professionals". Roll Call. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
57. Kevin Bogardus (8 December 2010). "GOP freshman class draws K Street talent". The Hill. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
58. Sweet, Lynn (April 22, 2015). "Dold gets Schock's coveted Ways and Means Committee seat". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
59. Dold gets Schock's coveted Ways and Means Committee seat
60. Candidate: Robert Dold, Chicago Tribune
61. Kenilworth businessman to enter 10th Dist. Congressional race, Mick Zawislak, Daily Herald, September 12, 2009
62. LinkedIn Profile. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
63. , Abdon M. Pallasch, Chicago Sun Times, September 28, 2010

External links

• Congressman Bob Dold official U.S. House site
• Bob Dold for U.S. Congress
• Robert Dold at Ballotpedia
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Project Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress