Lauren Underwood

Naperville Democrat Lauren Underwood was reelected to a fifth term Tuesday night, defeating perennial challenger Oswego Republican Jim Marter.

This was Marter’s fourth attempt to unseat Underwood, a 39-year-old nurse who was first elected to Congress in 2018.

The Associated Press called the race at 9:34 p.m., with Underwood holding a 64.2% to 35.8% lead. Underwood had 122,137 votes at that time, with Marter having 68,047 votes when the race was called.

Marter, 63, formerly served on the Oswego Library Board from 2021 to 2025. He has been a software consultant, business owner, and entrepreneur.

The 14th Congressional District covers parts of seven counties: Bureau, DeKalb, Kane, Kendall, La Salle, Putnam, and Will.

In her reelection bid, Underwood has come out against the Trump administration’s immigration policies and been outspoken about the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

She has criticized funding cuts to the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, Medicare, and SNAP. She has also opposed the tariffs implemented by the Trump administration.

Marter said in a March GOP primary, he opposes federal funding for “political activism. We must defund Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in all areas of the federal government. Make permanent the elimination of USAID and all funding for Planned Parenthood & abortion providers.”

He said in a Shaw Local questionnaire during the primary race that he supported Trump’s immigration policies; the cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency, overseen by Elon Musk, and “getting the Federal Government out of health policy management.”

News editor for The Herald-News. More than 30 years as a journalist in community news in Will County and the greater Chicago region.