© 2024 NPR Illinois
The Capital's Community & News Service
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Oberweis Would Back Federal Same Sex Marriage Law

Oberweis for US Senate

The Republican nominee for U.S. Senate has switched his stance on same-sex marriage.

Only a few Republican members of the General Assembly voted for Illinois' law that has, since June, allowed two men or two women to marry one another.

State Sen. Jim Oberweis wasn't one of them. He voted no.

But the Sugar Grove Republican, now a candidate for the U.S. Senate, says he would go along with a federal law permitting same sex marriage.

Here's how he answered a question about it Wednesday's debate.

"I think that's well established. I think the court has said that's approved. I think that there's no arguing about it any longer. So at this point I would say yes," he said. "I would prefer to see it determined by the states, but again, I think we're past that stage."

Oberweis is running against U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who has held the seat since 1996. Durbin says he has long supported marriage equality.

Amanda Vinicky moved to Chicago Tonight on WTTW-TV PBS in 2017.
Related Stories