Why We Should Re-Elect Bob Dold

In an election dominated by visceral, violent political rhetoric, I want to write in favor of someone who is among the finest people running for and holding office today.

Congressman Bob Dold is the obvious choice for the voters in the 10th district next Tuesday.

He is a dedicated public servant who has put the interests of the independent voters of the northern Chicago suburbs first and has worked inexhaustibly to know each town, each constituent, and each pressing issue. He and his similarly hard-working team move past the partisan gridlock, and dysfunction in Washington to work across both sides of the aisle to get things done. Congressman Dold’s Lali’s Law bill, which ensures greater access for the heroin antidote, naloxone, signed into law by President Obama and passed through the Illinois Senate by Democratic State Senator Melinda Bush, is just one outstanding example of such achievement.

In contrast to what his opponent has said and suggested about him, Congressman Dold is beholden to no one and nothing. He puts country ahead of party each time he gets the chance. He was one of the very first Republicans to denounce Donald Trump back in December and has stood firm in his convictions against his party’s divisive nominee. Indeed, his immigration reform efforts with Luis Gutierrez are proof positive that Dold stands as his own man, and cannot be confused with his party’s nominee. He has been a friend of the environment time and time again, which is why he helped to introduce the Great Lakes Water Protection Act, which helps to stop sewage dumping in the Great Lakes, and why he has been commended by groups ranging from the Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions to the Environmental Defense Fund. He has been one of the most stalwart leaders and advocates for LGBT rights and equality in the Republican Party, which is shown to be true by his brave leadership in co-sponsoring the Equality Act, a bill laden with protections for LGBT employees, earlier this year. It is therefore no surprise that he was the only Republican congressman to receive the endorsement of the country’s largest LGBT rights organization, the Human Rights Campaign. He has also been a leader for the 10th district on another important issue that others in his party have shirked from—gun safety. In the middle of a crisis and after the horrific nightclub attack in Orlando, Congressman Dold was the only Republican to speak on the House floor in favor of action on guns. Not only did he lead with his words, but also with his actions, in helping to introduce the bipartisan Terrorist Firearms Prevention Act, along with Democratic Congresswoman Robin Kelly, in the House.

These are all the actions and words of a man who works to break down barriers and tear down walls. His opponent, Mr. Schneider, may desperately hope to convince the voters otherwise, but in fact, he is the only candidate in the race who has stood by as President Obama has constructed a partisan wall between the United States and its loyal ally, the state of Israel. Brad Schneider evoked the spirit of John Kerry in his actions on the perilous Iran Deal—he was against it before he was for it. Dold has stood strong against the nuclear ambitions and terroristic aspirations of the dangerous Iranian theocracy, while Schneider has buckled to the pressures of party and Pelosi. When push came to shove, to quote Secretary Clinton, Schneider “choked.”

If the voters of the tenth district want to help return Washington to a state of sanity, positivity, and accomplishment, they will re-elect Congressman Bob Dold. I ask Democrats, Republicans, and independents to put aside their prejudices and their partisan stripes, and to unite in support of this exemplary man and leader on Tuesday November 8th. In this tumultuous year, he will give us something and someone to be proud of if he is elected to serve another term in Congress.