Bob Dold

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American politician (born 1969)

title: "Bob Dold" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1969-births", "21st-century-american-businesspeople", "21st-century-united-states-representatives", "american-people-of-english-descent", "american-people-of-german-descent", "american-people-of-irish-descent", "american-people-of-scottish-descent", "american-people-of-swedish-descent", "businesspeople-from-evanston,-illinois", "denison-university-alumni", "indiana-university-maurer-school-of-law-alumni", "kellogg-school-of-management-alumni", "living-people", "new-trier-high-school-alumni", "people-from-kenilworth,-illinois", "republican-party-united-states-representatives-from-illinois"] description: "American politician (born 1969)" topic_path: "law" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Dold" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American politician (born 1969) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox officeholder"]

Field	Value
name	Bob Dold
image	Robert Dold official portrait 114th Congress (3x4 cropped).jpg
state	Illinois
district
term_start	January 3, 2015
term_end	January 3, 2017
predecessor	Brad Schneider
successor	Brad Schneider
term_start1	January 3, 2011
term_end1	January 3, 2013
predecessor1	Mark Kirk
successor1	Brad Schneider
birth_name	Robert James Dold Jr.
birth_date
birth_place	Evanston, Illinois, U.S.
party	Republican
spouse	Danielle Dold
children	3
education	Denison University (BA)
Indiana University, Bloomington (JD)
Northwestern University (MBA)
::

|name = Bob Dold |image = Robert Dold official portrait 114th Congress (3x4 cropped).jpg |state = Illinois |district = |term_start = January 3, 2015 |term_end = January 3, 2017 |predecessor = Brad Schneider |successor = Brad Schneider |term_start1 = January 3, 2011 |term_end1 = January 3, 2013 |predecessor1 = Mark Kirk |successor1 = Brad Schneider |birth_name = Robert James Dold Jr. |birth_date = |birth_place = Evanston, Illinois, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |party = Republican |spouse = Danielle Dold |children = 3 |education = Denison University (BA) Indiana University, Bloomington (JD) Northwestern University (MBA) Robert James Dold Jr. (born June 23, 1969) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 2011 to 2013 and again from 2015 to 2017. He is a member of the Republican Party. Prior to his election, Dold ran his family-owned business, Rose Pest Solutions. 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. He graduated from New Trier High School where he was quarterback of the football team and captain of the wrestling and lacrosse teams. He earned a BA degree from Denison University where he served as President of the Campus Governance Association and was a member of Beta Theta Pi. Dold obtained a JD degree from Indiana University where his classmates selected him to give the commencement address, and an MBA degree from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

Dold was an intern in the administration of Vice President Dan Quayle. 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.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2010

Main article: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois#District 10

Dold ran for the open seat, as five-term incumbent Mark Kirk was retiring to run for the U.S. Senate. In his first radio ad of the general election campaign, Dold described himself as a small business owner, fiscal conservative, and social moderate. He won the primary election on February 2, 2010, and faced Democrat Dan Seals in the general election. Seals, a business consultant, had been the nominee for this seat in 2006 and 2008, losing both times to Kirk. Dold was endorsed by the Chicago Tribune, whose editorial page editor, R. Bruce Dold, is not related to Bob Dold. The US Chamber of Commerce and the Electrical Contractors' Association also endorsed him. Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and Americans for Tax Reform president Grover Norquist campaigned for Dold. After reporting nearly equal fund-raising for the second quarter, Dold's fundraising outpaced Seals' in the third quarter, and he began the final quarter with more cash on hand. 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. Dold won the general election with 51% of the vote to Seals' 49%.

2012

Main article: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois#District 10

The Cook Political Report named Dold one of the top 10 Republicans most vulnerable to redistricting in 2012; the 10th was already a Democratic-leaning district, and became even more so due to redistricting. The endorsement of Senator Mark Kirk, who was popular in the district at the time, was expected to help Dold. Dold had a strong cash-on-hand advantage over his opponent Brad Schneider. Dold earned the endorsement of the Chicago Tribune and Daily Herald. Schneider defeated Dold 51%–49%, a difference of just 3,000 votes.

2014

Main article: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois#District 10

On May 8, 2013, Dold announced in an e-mail to supporters that he would run for his old seat in 2014. The National Republican Congressional Committee actively recruited him to run again. The race was expected to be one of the most competitive in the country, and was ranked by Roll Call as the seventh most likely flip for 2014 House rematches. Billionaire and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg spent nearly $2 million to help Dold.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20141020/NEWS02/141029977/bloomberg-super-pac-backs-dold-over-schneider-in-illinois-10th-district |title=Bloomberg weighs in for Dold |date=2014-10-20|access-date=2020-08-15 |first1=Paul |last1=Merrion |website=chicagobusiness.com}} Dold won the rematch by slightly more than 4,800 votes and took office at the start of the 114th Congress.

2016

Main article: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois#District 10

Dold ran for re-election in 2016, facing a rematch with Brad Schneider in the general election. He was endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBT civil rights organization, despite the organization having endorsed Schneider in 2014. Dold was also endorsed by The Chicago Tribune and The Chicago Sun-Times.

He refused to endorse Republican nominee Donald Trump in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and said he would instead write in an alternative candidate's name.

In the general election, Dold lost to Schneider by 5 percentage points, as Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton won the district by nearly 30.

Tenure

Reputation

Dold is a moderate Republican who had a centrist voting record in Congress. The non-partisan organization GovTrack has ranked Dold in the political center of Congress. National Journal did a comprehensive study of key votes in the House, ranking Dold as one of the most independent members of Congress. The district had traditionally elected moderate Republicans, such as Dold and his predecessors John Edward Porter and Mark Kirk.

Dold is an original member of the No Labels movement which, Dold stated, he hoped would help to end the gridlock in Washington, DC. 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. An editorial in The Daily Herald noted Dold's spirit of bipartisanship and called for more Bob Dolds in Congress. According to Roll Call, Dold has moved further to the center during his second term in Congress.

Political positions

Dold supports abortion rights. 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. He has voiced support for stem cell research.

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

He has stated his support for gay marriage and immigration reform. 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.

Regarding the Affordable Care Act, he has stated his desire to improve the law rather than fight to repeal or defund it. 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.{{cite news | title = Dold one of three Republicans to oppose Obamacare repeal | work = Daily Herald | date = February 4, 2015 | url = http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20150203/news/150209609/ | access-date = February 8, 2015

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

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

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. Burgeson and Dold had previously worked together on Sen. Bob Dole's 1996 presidential campaign. Dold instituted a policy that "staff may not work on matters of substance with former clients."

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.

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

Post-congressional work

In 2018, Dold started an organization to promote and support moderate Republicans.{{cite news|last1=Pathe|first1=Simone|title=Bob Dold Starts New Group to Thank 'Centrist' GOP Incumbents |url=https://rollcall.com/2018/02/28/bob-dold-starts-new-group-to-thank-centrist-gop-incumbents/|access-date=June 21, 2023|work=Roll Call|date=February 28, 2018}}

In 2022, Dold joined other former Republican members of Congress to support the passage of federal legislation prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals.

Personal life

Dold is married and has three children. He resides in Kenilworth, Illinois and runs Rose Pest Solutions, the oldest pest control company in the country. Dold attends Kenilworth Union Church and is a scoutmaster for Kenilworth Boy Scout Troop No. 13.

Electoral history

References

"Representative Robert James Dold (Robert) (R-Illinois, 10th) – Biography from". LegiStorm.
(November 3, 2010). "Seals concedes congressional race in 10th District". [[ABC News (United States).
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"Meet Bob".
[https://www.gop.com/leaders/congressman-bob-dold-il Congressman Bob Dold] – website of the [[Republican Party (United States). Republican Party]]
(January 20, 2010). "Former veep weighs in". Pioneer Local.
[https://web.archive.org/web/20150924171842/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-12D192F78ED58028.html Small businessman's roots run deep in district], Lynn Stiefel, ''[[Pioneer Press]]'', January 7, 2010
[https://web.archive.org/web/20110708145202/http://www.chicagogop.com/home/dold-launches-first-radio-ad.html Dold Launches First Radio Ad], Dold for Congress Press Release, Chicago GOP, July 21, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
(October 7, 2010). "For the US House". Chicago Tribune.
(October 25, 2010). "Come on, Mr. Seals". Chicago Tribune.
[http://www.pioneerlocal.com/glenview/news/2704246,glenview-10thbriefs-091610-s1.article], ''[[Pioneer Press]]'', September 13, 2010 {{dead link. (March 2012)
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[http://thecapitolfaxblog.com/2010/09/20/new-ads-by-foster-nrcc-norquist-endorses-dold-nazi-smear/ New ads by Foster, NRCC; Norquist endorses Dold; Nazi smear], Rich Miller, ''The Capitol Fax Blog'', September 20, 2010
[http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2010/07/dold_seals_tied_in_second_quar.html Dold, Seals tied in second quarter fund-raising in Illinois 10th House district] {{webarchive. link. (July 21, 2010 , Lynn Sweet, ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', July 15, 2010)
Lynne Stiefel. (October 18, 2010). "10th Congress District: Show me the money". [[Pioneer Press]].
[http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-bob-dold-fed-investigation-sept30,0,4572973.story Candidate's campaign finance called into question FEC looking into Republican Bob Dold's campaign funds], Randi Belisomo, [[WGN-TV. WGN News]], September 30, 2010 {{dead link. (September 2014)
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(March 7, 2012). "Sheyman Brings a 'Truly Progressive Voice'". Buffalo Grove Patch.
(October 7, 2012). "Searching for solutions". Chicago Tribune.
(October 9, 2012). "Endorsement: Dold over Schneider in 10th Congressional District". Daily Herald.
"2014 Election Results Senate: Map by State, Live Midterm Voting Updates". Politico.
(May 9, 2013). "Dold out to reclaim north suburban congressional seat". Chicago Tribune.
(April 15, 2013). "Dold being recruited by top GOP to run again in 10th". Daily Herald.
(May 6, 2013). "Ranking Potential Flips for 2014 House Rematches". Roll Call.
(May 18, 2016). "Morning Spin: Kirk: Trump needs me re-elected over Duckworth". Chicago Tribune.
(October 7, 2016). "First day of Tribune endorsements for U.S. House seats in Illinois". The Chicago Tribune.
(October 13, 2013). "Endorsement: Bob Dold goes for the smart middle ground". Chicago Sun-Times.
(June 16, 2016). "The 5 Types of Trump-Averse Republicans". The New York Times.
(November 9, 2016). "Schneider bests Dold in 10th District race; Krishnamoorthi wins in 8th". The Chicago Tribune.
(January 24, 2014). "The Fix's top 10 House race rematches of 2014". The Washington Post.
(June 18, 2012). "2 Legislators on Tough Turf Try Delicate Run Down the Middle". The New York Times.
(August 21, 2012). "House freshmen in tight races: How many first-termers will be one-termers?". Sunlight Foundation.
[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/spectrum.xpd] {{webarchive. link. (March 18, 2012)
National Journal, February 25, 2012, Pages, 10–49
(February 23, 2012). "Robert Dold: Candidate Profile". Daily Herald.
(January 9, 2015). "'Moderate' is now a dirty word for some House Republicans". Crain's Chicago Business.
(November 10, 2013). "Illinois Republican eyes return to Congress". The Hill.
(July 29, 2011). "Compromise not a bad word on debt". Daily Herald Editorial Board.
(March 7, 2015). "The Lugar Center McCourt School Bipartisan Index". The Lugar Center.
(June 11, 2012). "In 10th district, first-term Republican Bob Dold tries to hold off challenger Brad Schneider". WBEZ.
(September 5, 2012). "Bob Dold Introduces Bill To Protect Planned Parenthood Funding". HuffPost.
(August 25, 2010). "10th Dist. candidates back stem cell research, oppose injunction". Daily Herald.
(January 2, 2013). "How Illinois Legislators Voted on Fiscal Cliff Bill". NBC Chicago.
(November 10, 2013). "Illinois Republican eyes return to Congress". The Hill.
(January 15, 2016). "Illinois Republican becomes first in party to back LGBT rights bill". The Hill.
(September 8, 2012). "Dold, Schneider clash on abortion, gay marriage, health care". Chicago Tribune.
(October 17, 2012). "Bloomberg super PAC supports gun control, gay rights". CBS News.
(March 9, 2015). "A House Republican Moves Closer to Middle". Roll Call.
(April 22, 2014). "Green GOP Group Caught Between 'Rock and a Hard Place'". NPR.
(April 26, 2013). "Democrats Distort Vote on Climate Change". FactCheck.org.
(February 22, 2016). "Dold pushes to expand availability of heroin overdose antidote". Daily Herald.
Daniel Newhauser. (January 5, 2011). "Outsiders Choose Hill Professionals". [[Roll Call]].
Kevin Bogardus. (December 8, 2010). "GOP freshman class draws K Street talent". [[The Hill (newspaper).
(April 22, 2015}}{{Dead link). "Dold gets Schock's coveted Ways and Means Committee seat". Chicago Sun-Times.
"Dold gets Schock's coveted Ways and Means Committee seat".
(June 14, 2022). "Former GOP members of Congress urge lawmakers to pass federal LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination legislation". [[The Hill (newspaper).
[http://elections.chicagotribune.com/candidate/robert-dold/ Candidate: Robert Dold] {{webarchive. link. (August 17, 2010 , ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'')
Daily Herald]]'', September 12, 2009
[http://www.linkedin.com/pub/bob-dold/4/a9/987 LinkedIn Profile]. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
[https://web.archive.org/web/20101003141958/http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/2755132%2Cbob-dold-residency-issue-092810.article], Abdon M. Pallasch, ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', September 28, 2010
"General Election of November 2, 2010". Illinois State Board of Elections.
"2012 General Primary Official Vote Totals Book". Illinois State Board of Elections.
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