Robert James Dold Jr.[1] (born June 23, 1969) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Illinois's 10th congressional district from 2011 to 2013 and again from 2015 to 2017.

[3] In 2010, Dold defeated Democratic Party nominee Dan Seals to replace Republican incumbent Mark Kirk in the U.S. House of Representatives.

[5] 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.

[7] 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.

In his first radio ad of the general election campaign, Dold described himself as a small business owner, fiscal conservative, and social moderate.

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani[12] and Americans for Tax Reform president Grover Norquist[14] campaigned for Dold.

[31] 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.

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

[37] National Journal did a comprehensive study of key votes in the House, ranking Dold as one of the most independent members of Congress.

[38] The district had traditionally elected moderate Republicans, such as Dold and his predecessors John Edward Porter and Mark Kirk.

5650, the Protecting Women's Access to Health Care Act, which prevents lawmakers from blocking funds to Planned Parenthood.

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

[56] Upon taking office in 2011, Dold hired former lobbyist Eric Burgeson, who grew up in Illinois' 10th district, as his congressional Chief of Staff.

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