Changes

Arends was first elected to the House in the 1934 midterms, defeating Democrat incumbent Frank Gillespie narrowly.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=262725 IL District 17 Race - Nov 06, 1934]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 13, 2021.</ref> He was re-elected in a rematch the following election cycle,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=262867 IL District 17 Race - Nov 03, 1936]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 13, 2021.</ref> and hardly faced any serious challengers in his following eighteen re-elections.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=33106 Candidate - Leslie C. Arends]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 13, 2021.</ref>

Arends voted in favor of [[anti-lynching legislation]] in 1937<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/75-1/h27 TO PASS H. R. 1507, AN ANTI-LYNCHING BILL.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 14, 2021.</ref> and 1940,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/76-3/h96 TO PASS H.R. 801, A BILL TO MAKE LYNCHING A FEDERAL CRIME.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 14, 2021.</ref> the Gavagan-Wagner bill and the Gavagan-Fisher bill respectively.<ref>[https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2018/07/01/on-ideology-and-anti-lynching-legislation/ On Ideology and Anti-Lynching Legislation]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved June 14, 2021.</ref>