Dennis Hastert - Post-Speakership Career

Post-Speakership Career

Hastert was reelected to his seat by a margin of 59.75 percent vs. 40.25 percent in the 2006 election, but that year the Republicans lost control, and soon after, Hastert announced he would not run for the post of Minority leader. He had long made it known that the 2007–09 term (110th Congress) would be his last. On June 1, 2007, State Senator Chris Lauzen declared his intention to seek the Republican nomination from Hastert's district. On July 2007, three-time statewide candidate Jim Oberweis also declared his intention to seek the Republican nomination from Hastert's district. The next month, Geneva mayor Kevin Burns became the third Republican candidate in the race to succeed Hastert.

On Aug. 10, 2007, Hastert's office sent letters to his supporters stating that he would announce whether he would be running for another term as congressman of the 14th district. The press conference was set to take place at the Kendall County Courthouse in Yorkville, Illinois on August 17 at 10 am According to sources, Hastert usually announced his intention to run by sending out a press release. On August 14, 2007, a blog reported that Hastert was planning to retire from politics at the end of his term.

On October 17, 2007, the political newspaper Roll Call announced that Hastert would resign from the House before the end of 2007. He gave a farewell speech on the House Floor on November 15, 2007, which was followed by remarks from Speaker Pelosi.

Finally, on November 26, 2007, Hastert submitted his resignation, effective at 11:59 pm that day, to Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, explaining that the timing allowed the governor to set the primary for the special election to fill out the remainder of his term on February 5, 2008, the same day as the primary for the November general election. Gov. Blagojevich, however, chose to name a special and separate election on Saturday, March 8, 2008 for this remainder of Hastert's term. This created great controversy as the expense to the county election services involved was construed by many as being of Hastert's making, when he had purposefully resigned with adequate time to have his position filled by special ballot on the day of the regular Illinois primary on February 5. Ultimately, the special election was held on March 8, 2008 and the Democratic candidate, Bill Foster, prevailed over the Republican candidate, Jim Oberweis.

In 2012, a Chicago Tribune investigation found that Hastert had used his taxpayer-funded office to conduct private business. Federal law allows former House speakers to maintain a government-financed office for up to five years, but they are not permitted to use the office for financial gain.