Oberweis considering another U.S. Senate run
State Sen. Jim Oberweis, a Sugar Grove Republican, says he’s considering a run for U.S. Senate and will make a final decision in three to four weeks.
“I have had a number of different people encourage me to do so,” he said.
Oberweis has waged unsuccessful bids for U.S. Senate before, in 2002 and 2004, finishing second in the primary each year. The dairy magnate said he’d go for it in 2014 only if he felt his candidacy would be good for the party and the state.
“I’m not there yet,” he said.
So far, political rookie Doug Truax of Buffalo Grove has announced a bid to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Springfield, as has Chad Koppie of Gilberts.
McHenry Tea Party favorite and former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh has told the Daily Herald he might consider a run as well.
Oberweis said he has met Truax and thinks Walsh would be a great candidate.
“He seems like a nice young man,” Oberweis said of Truax. “Unfortunately, he has very little name (identification).”
In response to the idea Walsh might run, Truax spokesman Dan Curry said last month he is in the race “no matter who enters” the Republican primary.
Oberweis has had a busy political year in his first term as a state senator. His legislation to raise the speed limit on rural interstates to 70 mph was signed by Gov. Pat Quinn, and he helped lead an effort to try to remove then Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady of St. Charles.
Oberweis said one factor he’d consider in weighing a Senate race would be money. He said he could help finance some of his campaign but said would need outside financial support to raise enough cash to battle Durbin.