Republican Newcomer From Highland Park Announces 10th District Challenge

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — After three straight identical match-ups in races for the 10th Congressional district, the 2018 election will feature a new challenger.

Kenilworth Republican Bob Dold has decided not to challenge Deerfield Democratic Rep. Brad Schneider in a forth consecutive race to recapture his former North Shore seat, according to his spokesperson.

Stepping up to challenge for the Republican nomination, Highland Park activist and lawyer Jeremy Wynes, 37, announced his candidacy Tuesday.

According to his campaign biography, Wynes originally intended to pursue a career in law enforcement, but instead became a lawyer after being inspired by an internship with the public defender's office. After two years in private practice as a lawyer, he went to work for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

In 2014, Wynes launched the Chicago office of the Republican Jewish Coalition, where he "helped lead the fight in Illinois against the disastrous Iran nuclear deal, efforts to isolate our allies and empower our adversaries, and the dangerous foreign policy of an America that leads from behind on the world stage," his campaign said.

The Wynes campaign announcement called Schneider "one of the most underperforming Democrats in the country," and points out Republicans have won each of the last 10 midterm elections in the district.

Schneider issued a response to Wynes' announcement, saying "There will be plenty of time for campaigns next year, and I look forward to a rigorous debate on the issues at that time."

Wynes is pro-choice and pro-gay marriage and believes he cannot be pigeon holed as a "Trump Republican," and he considers his biggest strength to be issues of foreign policy, he told WLS.

Wynes has hired two consultants who have previously been employed by Gov. Bruce Rauner, and his announcement video was produced by former Bob Dold campaign manager James Slepian, according to Capital Fax. Wyne told the Daily Herald he considers Dold a friend and would not be have been interested in running against him.

Both candidates have Northwestern connections. Lesley Wynes, Jeremy's spouse, is an assistant dean at the university's Kellog School of Management, from which Schneider earned a degree.

It was at Northwestern where the potential future candidates have already faced off once, as they appeared together at a 2015 forum discussing the U.S.-Israeli relationship.

At the time, the two agreed that partisanship disagreements should not negatively impact strong bipartisan support for Israel, the Daily Northwestern reported.

The Republican primary will take place March 2018.

Announcement video via Jeremy Wynes For Congress:

Top photo | Jeremy Wynes | Jeremy Wynes For Congress Video