Early life, education, and early political career

Hultgren graduated from Wheaton Academy in 1984 and from Bethel University in 1988, Magna Cum Laude. He earned a juris doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1993.

Hultgren has been Republican Precinct Committeeman for Milton Township Princinct #20; Member of DuPage County Board; Board of Directors for the DuPage Homeownership Center. He was first elected to the DuPage County Board in 1994, to represent the 4th district.

Illinois House of Representatives

Elections

In 1998, incumbent Republican State Representative Peter Roskam of Illinois' 40th House District decided to retire in order to run for Congress. Hultgren ran and won unopposed. He won re-election to a second term unopposed in 2000. After redistricting, Hultgren decided to run in the newly redrawn 95th House District and defeated Democrat Dirk Enger 61%-37%.

Committee assignments

Hultgren was on the Death Penalty Committee and the Education Committee.

Illinois Senate

Elections

In 2006, incumbent State Senator Peter Roskam of Illinois' 48th Senate District decided to retire to run for Congress again. Hultgren ran and won the Republican primary 60%-40% over Naperville City Councilman Dick Furstenau. He won the general election unopposed. In 2008, he won re-election to a second term unopposed.

Committee assignments

• Senate Committee on Labor (minority spokesperson)
• Senate Committee on Commerce and Economic Development
• Senate Committee on Environment and Energy
• Senate Committee on Housing and Community Affairs
• Senate Committee on Judiciary Civil Law
• Senate Committee on Joint Committee on Administrative Rules

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2010

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2010 § District 14*

On September 28, 2009, Hultgren announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in Illinois's 14th congressional district and won the party's nomination in the February 2nd primary election.

Hultgren defeated Democratic incumbent Bill Foster 51%-45%.

2012

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2012 § District 14

As a result of the decennial reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Illinois lost one seat in the US House of Representatives. The new district map (now featuring only 18 districts, and drawn by the Democratic-controlled Illinois General Assembly), included areas previously represented in the 8th district in the new 14th district. The 8th district was represented by Joe Walsh, but as Walsh lives in the new 14th district, he considered challenging Hultgren in the primary. Hultgren announced his intention to run for re-election, while Walsh decided to run in the 8th district.

In the general election, Hultgren won re-election to a second term, beating Democratic candidate Dennis Anderson, with 59% of the vote.

2014

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2014 § District 14

Hultgren ran for a third term and was opposed by Dennis Anderson for a second time. Hultgren again defeated Anderson, this time with 65% of the vote.

Tenure

Hultgren introduced the Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act (H.R. 992; 113th Congress) into the House on March 6, 2013. The bill would improve the ability of banks to use swaps as a tool for hedging risk by amending the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

Hultgren supported the Hire More Heroes Act of 2013 (H.R. 3474; 113th Congress), a bill that would allow employers to exclude veterans receiving health insurance from the United States Department of Defense or the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs from their list of employees. This would have the effect of keeping their list of employees shorter, allowing some small businesses to fall underneath the 50 full-time employees line that would require them to provide their employees with healthcare under the requirements of the Affordable Care Act. Hultgren wrote in favor of the bill saying that the employer health insurance mandate "is just another costly burden that discourages employers from expanding their workforce, and our economy cannot afford it. Lifting this burden on small businesses is a win for our veterans and our economy."

In 2010 Hultgren signed a pledge sponsored by Americans for Prosperity promising to vote against any Global Warming legislation that would raise taxes.

Hultgren has been an advocate for homeschooling, as his four children are home-schooled, and he believes that "homeschooling is the ultimate local control." In 2011, Hultgren introduced the Family Educational Records Privacy Extension Act (H.R. 2910), which would have given fairness and equality to homeschoolers across the nation.

Science Advocacy

During his first term in Congress, Hultgren became known as an "outspoken advocate for basic scientific research and STEM education" having been the first freshman House member of either party to win one of the major science awards for Members of Congress, with NBC Chicago noting "The conservative Republican has carved a reputation as a pro-science, pro-STEM education supporter".

Hultgren went on record to note that "The U.S. research system is unique. We’ve found an incredibly powerful combination, wedding education and research by incorporating universities, user facilities and Department of Energy resources. But this system is only as stable our commitment to it, which is why sustained and predictable research funding is crucial."

Along with Democratic Senator Mark Udall, Hultgren was awarded the George Brown Science Technology Engineering Leadership award by the Science, Technology, Engineering Working Group, a coalition of pro-science groups including The American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Institute of Physics, ASME, et al.

In October 2012, Hultgren was a recipient of the Champion of Science Award by the Science Coalition, a non-profit advocacy group composed of the 50 leading research universities in the United States. The award was presented by Fermilab Director Pier Oddone and University of Illinois President Robert Easter along with University of Chicago President Robert Zimmer, who noted that "Congressman Hultgren provides a strong voice for science in Congress."

Hultgren introduced the American Super Computing Leadership Act (H.R. 2495; 113th Congress) into the House on June 25, 2013. The bill would require the United States Department of Energy to improve and increase its use of high-end computers, especially exascale computing, through an organized research program.

Committee assignments

112th Congress

• Committee on Agriculture
  • Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry
  • Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management
  • Subcommittee on Rural Development, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture
• Committee on Science, Space and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Research and Science Education
  • Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation
  • Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Aviation
  • Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management
  • Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials

113th Congress

• Committee on Financial Services
  • Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises
  • Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
• Committee on Science, Space and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Environment

Electoral history

Illinois's 14th district Republican primary, February 2, 2010
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Randy Hultgren	34,833	55
	Republican	Ethan Hastert	28,840	45
Total votes			63,673	100

2010 U.S. House of Representatives election in Illinois' 14th District
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Randy Hultgren	111,633	51
	Democratic	Bill Foster	97,559	45
	Green	Daniel J. Kairis	7,880	4
	Independent	Doug Marks	50	0
Total votes			190,139	100
	Republican gain from Democratic

Illinois' 14th congressional district election results, 2012
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Randy Hultgren (Incumbent)	177,603	59
	Democratic	Dennis Anderson	124,351	41
Total votes			301,954	100

Illinois's 14th Congressional District, 2014
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Randy Hultgren (Incumbent)	145,369	65
	Democratic	Dennis Anderson	76,861	35
Total votes			222,230	100
	Republican hold

Personal life

Hultgren currently resides in Plano, Illinois with his wife, Christy, and four children who have been home-schooled.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]