U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-Plano) retained his seat in the 14th Congressional District on Tuesday by an approximately 20 percent vote margin over Democratic challenger Jim Walz of Gurnee.
Hultgren, who has held the seat since 2011, is on the House Financial Services and Science, Space and Technology Committees. He supported reform for the tax system to make it fairer to families and business owners. On health care, Hultgren has voted often to repeal, replace or d-efund the Affordable Care Act, of which he has been mostly critical, although he does approve of its ability to help people get coverage who were previously uninsured and for letting young people remain on their parents' insurance until age 26. He has introduced the State Care Options Act to make it easier for states to opt out of the Affordable Care Act if they develop their own insurance marketplaces.
Walz, a Warren Township High School District 121 board member, supported the idea of single-payer universal health care. He also campaigned on the ideas of progressive taxation and investing in infrastructure. Walz also supports the DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act on the immigration front -- legislation that has failed to pass after several attempts.