Little noticed among the higher-profile races in the March primary election was a rare victory for the Aurora dairy-magnate-turned-perennial-candidate JIM OBERWEIS. Nicknamed the Milk Dud for his failed bids for U.S. Senate, governor, and Congress, Oberweis won the Republican nomination for the state senate seat from the 25th District in the western suburbs. And unlike in his previous races, he hasn’t even spent a cent.
2002 U.S. SENATE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
PERSONAL SPENDING: $1.01 million
COST PER VOTE: $3.87
2004 U.S. SENATE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
PERSONAL SPENDING: $3.01 million
COST PER VOTE: $19.31
Related:
What Makes Jim Run? »
Our August 2008 profile of Oberweis
2006 GUBERNATORIAL REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
PERSONAL SPENDING: $2.49 million
COST PER VOTE: $10.64
2008 14th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CAMPAIGN*
PERSONAL SPENDING: $4.62 million
COST PER VOTE: $17.17
2012 25th DISTRICT STATE SENATE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
PERSONAL SPENDING: $0
COST PER VOTE: $0
*Totals combined from four races: a special election primary to fill a congressional term and the regular GOP primary, both won by Oberweis, and the special and general elections, which Oberweis lost
SOURCES: Illinois State Board of Elections; Federal Election Commission