Mike Bost IL-12

Mike Bost

Summary

Current Position: US Representative of IL District 12 since 2015
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: State Delegate from 1995 – 2015
District: the entirety of Southern Illinois, spanning the Illinois-Missouri-Kentucky-Indiana border.  
Upcoming Election:

Before holding elected office, he was a firefighter. Bost ran his family’s trucking business for ten years. Since 1989, he and his wife Tracy have owned and operated White House Salon in Murphysboro.

Featured Quote: 
“I am a true believer that local control is better. I believe that our school boards should be able to make decisions on their own. I am not a big government person, and the only concern I have is that the fact is, the governor is taking a very strong step for local control,” Bost said.

 
Bost Speaks Against H.R. 1 mar. 6, 2021

OnAir Post: Mike Bost IL-12

News

About

Source: Government page

Mike Bost 1Rep. Mike Bost is proud to represent the 12 counties of Illinois’ 12th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Sworn into office on January 6, 2015, Mike is continuing the fight for our Southern Illinois’ values in Washington – a fight he began in U.S. military, then as a first responder, a local job creator, and a state representative.

In the 117th Congress, Rep. Bost serves on two key committees: Veterans’ Affairs, and Transportation & Infrastructure.  On the Veterans’ Affairs Committee he serves as the Ranking Member, the top Republican on the Committee.

Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Bost served for two decades in the Illinois House of Representatives, rising to the leadership position of House Republican Caucus Chair.

Rep. Bost also served as a firefighter for the Murphysboro Fire Department.   He graduated from the University of Illinois’ Certified Firefighter II Academy in 1993 and continued to serve the Murphysboro Fire Department during his six terms as state representative.  Prior to that, Rep. Bost worked for 13 years at Bost Trucking Service, first as a driver and then for 10 years as a truck manager.

Rep. Bost is a lifelong resident of Murphysboro.  He graduated from Murphysboro High School in 1979.   After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps serving his country from 1979 to 1982.   He was trained as an electronic specialist and radar repairman and received an honorable discharge as a Corporal E-4.

In addition to his duties as a Member of Congress, Rep. Bost is very active in his church and community.   Rep. Bost and his wife, Tracy, own and operate a small business – the White House Salon – in Murphysboro.

Mike and Tracy have three children – Steven, Kasey Fred and Kaitlin Rose.  They have two sons-in-law, Travis Fred and Chad Rose, a daughter-in-law, Betsy, and eleven grandchildren.

Personal

Full Name: Michael ‘Mike’ J. Bost

Gender: Male

Family: Wife: Tracy; 3 Children: Steven, Kasey, Kaitlin

Birth Date: 12/30/1960

Birth Place: Murphysboro, IL

Home City: Murphysboro, IL

Religion: Baptist

Source: Vote Smart

Education

Certified, Firefighter II Academy, University of Illinois, 1993

Graduated, Murphysboro High School, 1979

Political Experience

Representative, United States House of Representatives, District 12, 2014-present

Candidate, United States House of Representatives, Illinois, District 12, 2022, 2024

Representative, Illinois State House of Representatives, District 115, 1995-2014

Trustee, Murphysboro Township, 1993-1997

Member, Jackson County Board, 1984-1988

Professional Experience

Owner, White House Salon, present

Former Dispatcher/Truck Manager/Accountant, Bost Trucking

Firefighter, Murphysboro Fire Department, 1988-2006

Treasurer, Murphysboro Township, 1989-1992

Served, Corporal E-4, United States Marine Corps, 1979-1982

Offices

WASHINGTON
1211 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5661
Fax: (202) 225-0285

O’FALLON
302 West State Street
O’Fallon, IL 62269
Phone: (618) 622-0766
Fax: (618) 622-0774

CARBONDALE
300 East Main Street
Hunter Building-Suite 4
Carbondale, IL 62901
Phone: (618) 457-5787
Fax: (618) 457-299

ALTON
Satellite Office

GRANITE CITY
Satellite Office

MT. VERNON
Satellite Office

Contact

Email: Government

Web Links

Politics

Source: none

Committees

Legislation

Learn more about legislation sponsored and co-sponsored by Congressman Bost.

Caucuses 

  • Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Life Caucus
  • Caucus for the Human Bond
  • Congressional Addition, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus
  • Congressional Air Force Caucus
  • Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus
  • Congressional Biofuels Caucus
  • Congressional Border Security Caucus
  • Congressional Chemistry Caucus
  • Congressional Congenital Heart Caucus
  • Congressional Corrosion Prevention Caucus
  • Congressional Defense Communities Caucus
  • Congressional Diabetes Caucus
  • Congressional Dyslexia Caucus
  • Congressional Farmer’s Cooperative Caucus
  • Congressional Fertilizer Caucus
  • Congressional Fire Services Caucus – Co-Chairman
  • Congressional House Manufacturing Caucus
  • Congressional Long Range Strike Caucus
  • Congressional Mississippi River Caucus
  • Congressional Motorsports Caucus
  • Congressional National Guard & Reserve Components Caucus
  • Congressional Pilots Caucus
  • Congressional Rural Broadband Caucus
  • Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus
  • Congressional Steel Caucus – Vice Chairman
  • Congressional Tuesday Group
  • Congressional Veterans Job Caucus
  • Congressional Youth ChalleNGe Caucus
  • House Congressional Mobility Air Forces Caucus
  • House General Aviation Caucus
  • House Republican Policy Committee
  • House Republican Study Committee
  • House Rural Education Caucus
  • House Rural Health Care Coalition
  • Republican Main Street Partnership
  • United Service Organizations Congressional Caucus

Election Results

To learn more, go to this wikipedia section in this post.

Finances

Source: Open Secrets

Committees

Caucuses 

  • Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Life Caucus
  • Caucus for the Human Bond
  • Congressional Addition, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus
  • Congressional Air Force Caucus
  • Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus
  • Congressional Biofuels Caucus
  • Congressional Border Security Caucus
  • Congressional Chemistry Caucus
  • Congressional Congenital Heart Caucus
  • Congressional Corrosion Prevention Caucus
  • Congressional Defense Communities Caucus
  • Congressional Diabetes Caucus
  • Congressional Dyslexia Caucus
  • Congressional Farmer’s Cooperative Caucus
  • Congressional Fertilizer Caucus
  • Congressional Fire Services Caucus – Co-Chairman
  • Congressional House Manufacturing Caucus
  • Congressional Long Range Strike Caucus
  • Congressional Mississippi River Caucus
  • Congressional Motorsports Caucus
  • Congressional National Guard & Reserve Components Caucus
  • Congressional Pilots Caucus
  • Congressional Rural Broadband Caucus
  • Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus
  • Congressional Steel Caucus – Vice Chairman
  • Congressional Tuesday Group
  • Congressional Veterans Job Caucus
  • Congressional Youth ChalleNGe Caucus
  • House Congressional Mobility Air Forces Caucus
  • House General Aviation Caucus
  • House Republican Policy Committee
  • House Republican Study Committee
  • House Rural Education Caucus
  • House Rural Health Care Coalition
  • Republican Main Street Partnership
  • United Service Organizations Congressional Caucus

New Legislation

Learn more about legislation sponsored and co-sponsored by Congressman Bost.

Issues

Source: Government page

Learn about initiatives and news items related to the issue of agriculture.Read More (Agriculture)
Learn about initiatives and news items related to Education and Opportunity issues.Read More (Education and Opportunity)
Read relevant news information and initiatives regarding the issue of Energy.Read More (Energy)
Learn about initiatives and news items related to the issue of Financial Services.

Read More (Financial Services)

Learn about news and information related to the issue of Foreign Affairs.

Read More (Foreign Affairs)

Read relevant news information and initiatives regarding the issue of Health Care.Read More (Health Care)
Learn about news and information related to Jobs and Economic Growth issues.Read More (Jobs & Economic Growth)
Learn about news and information related to the issue of National Security.Read More (National Security)
Learn about news and information related to the issue of Spending Cuts and Debt.Read More (Spending Cuts & Debt)
Learn about initiatives and news items related to the issue of Tax Reform.

Read More (Tax Reform)

Read relevant news information and initiatives regarding the issue of Transportation.

Read More (Transportation & Infrastructure)

Learn about news and information related to Veterans issues.

Read More (Veterans)

Representative Bost serves as Vice Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, a bipartisan group of over 100 Members of Congress who represent regions with steel manufacturers or care about the health of the American steel industry.Read More (Congressional Steel Caucus)

More Information

Services

Source: Government page

District

Source: Wikipedia

The 12th congressional district of Illinois is a congressional district in the southern part of U.S. state of Illinois. It has been represented by Republican Mike Bost since 2015. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+24, it is the most Republican district in Illinois.[2]

Wikipedia

Michael Joseph Bost (/ˈbɔːst/ BAWST; born December 30, 1960) is an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, he has served as the U.S. representative for Illinois’s 12th congressional district since 2015. From 1995 to 2015, Bost was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 115th district. Before holding elected office, he was a firefighter.

Early life and career

Bost was raised Baptist[1] and graduated from Murphysboro High School.[2] He attended a firefighter academy program offered by the University of Illinois, later becoming a firefighter. Bost did not complete a college degree. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1979 to 1982.[3]

Bost ran his family’s trucking business for ten years. Since 1989, he and his wife Tracy have owned and operated White House Salon in Murphysboro.[4]

Bost was a member of the Jackson County Board from 1984 to 1988, the treasurer of Murphysboro Township from 1989 to 1992, and trustee of Murphysboro Township from 1993 to 1995, until his election to the Illinois House of Representatives.[5]

Illinois State Legislature

Bost was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in November 1994, having lost his first campaign in 1992. In his 1994 campaign against incumbent Gerald Hawkins, he was endorsed by the Chicago Tribune.[6]

During the 2008 Republican Party presidential primaries, Bost worked on former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson‘s presidential campaign, serving as a congressional district chair for Illinois’s 12th congressional district.[7]

In May 2012, members of the Illinois House were given just 20 minutes to review and vote on a 200-page pension overhaul bill that had been revised at the last minute. Displeased with the situation, Bost expressed his anger on the House floor, saying, “These damn bills that come out of here all the damn time…come out here at the last second, and I’ve got to try figure out how to vote for my people!…Enough! I feel like somebody trying to be released from Egypt! Let my people go!” An opponent ran ads focusing on Bost’s anger, but many voters, according to NPR, “see his fury as well-placed.”[8][9][10] (His phrasing may have been a play on words, due to his district being located in the “Little Egypt” region of Southern Illinois, so named because of its location on the Mississippi River and its proximity to the city of Cairo.) Bost’s rant earned him the runner-up spot on CNN‘s list of “Best Celebrity Flip-Outs of All-Time”.[11] He joked about his inclusion on the list, saying “I thought I was going to be No. 1”,[12] and later said he had been “angry at how legislators pushed a bill through and how Governor Pat Quinn was running Illinois.”[13]

In November 2013, Bost presented fellow U.S. Marine Archibald Mosley with Illinois House Resolution 706 for his lifetime accomplishments, including being among the first African-Americans to serve in the Marines. The presentation was part of a NAACP program.[14][15]

After the 2014 elections, Bost resigned early from the House to take office in Congress.[16] He was succeeded by Terri Bryant.[17]

Committees

Bost served on the following state legislative committees:[18]

  • Appropriations-Higher Education
  • Bio-Technology
  • Higher Education
  • Public Utilities

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2014

In 2014 Bost ran for U.S. Congress in Illinois’s 12th congressional district. He was unopposed in the Republican primary, and faced the incumbent, William Enyart, in the general election.[19]

Illinois’s largely agricultural 12th district was historically Democratic-leaning, but had been trending Republican, with President Obama having carried it by only 2 percentage points in 2012. Enyart was considered vulnerable as a freshman member in a competitive seat. Additionally, Democratic Governor Pat Quinn, who was running for reelection in 2014, was unpopular in the district.[12] The Cook Political Report rated the race a “Toss Up” and the National Journal ranked the district the 21st most likely to flip Republican in 2014.[12][20]

In a radio interview, Bost said some scientists believe in anthropogenic climate change while other scientists do not.[21]

Bost said he ran because “the federal government has basically blown everything they are doing right now.” He said he intended to fight for job growth and immigration reform.[22] He challenged Enyart to as many as 12 debates.[23] Bost was endorsed by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.[24]

Bost won the election with 53% of the vote to Enyart’s 42%, with Green Party candidate Paula Bradshaw taking 6%.[25] He won primarily by dominating the areas of the district outside the St. Louis suburbs, taking all but three of the district’s 12 counties.[26] He also benefited from the coattails of Bruce Rauner‘s successful run for governor; Rauner carried every county in the district.

After being elected to the House, Bost said he did not plan to acquire a second residence, but would sleep in his office while in Washington.[13]

2016

Bost ran for reelection in 2016. He was unopposed in the Republican primary, and faced Democrat C.J. Baricevic and Green Party candidate Paula Bradshaw in the general election.[27] Bost won the November 8 general election with 54% of the vote.[28]

Bost was endorsed by the Illinois Education Association, Illinois’s largest labor union. In its endorsement, the union cited Bost’s “strong record in support of public education in the Metro East and Southern Illinois.”[29]

2018

Bost ran for reelection in 2018. In the Republican primary, he defeated challenger Preston Nelson with 83.5% of the vote. In the general election, Bost defeated Democratic nominee Brendan Kelly with 51.8% of the vote to Kelly’s 45.2%. Green Party candidate Randy Auxier took 3%.[30]

2020

Bost won the Republican primary unopposed.[31] In the 2020 general election, Bost won with 60.4% of the vote.[32][33]

2022

Bost won the Republican primary unopposed. In the 2022 general election, Bost won with 75% of the vote.

2024

Bost is being challenged in the Republican primary by former state senator and 2022 gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey, making this his second challenge in a U.S. House primary.[34]

Tenure

Bost was sworn into office on January 6, 2015.[35]

In November 2014, Bost described President Obama, his former colleague in the Illinois legislature, as a “fluke” and said that “nobody ever thought he was going to rise.” He recalled a time when Obama, speaking to a group of reporters as Bost walked by, had said to them: “There you have it, one of the rich Republicans.” Bost purportedly responded, “that just proves you don’t know me at all.” He said that was his last exchange with Obama.[13]

After James Hodgkinson shot at GOP congressmen who were playing baseball in Virginia on June 14, 2017, injuring Steve Scalise, Bost said that his office had previously received phone calls from the attacker. “He’s contacted us just about 10 times, on every issue,” Bost said. “[He] was argumentative, but never threatening.”[36]

Bost is a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership, which described itself, as of 2015, as “a coalition of over 70 members… who stand for strong, conservative principles in economic and national security policy and believe in governing in a thoughtful and pragmatic manner”.[37][third-party source needed][38] and the conservative Republican Study Committee.[39]

At a March 2017 meeting with editors of the Southern Illinoisan, Bost said that he did not do “town halls” because they had become too combative. “You know the cleansing that the Orientals used to do where you’d put one person out in front and 900 people yell at them? That’s not what we need. We need to have meetings with people that are productive.” His use of the word “Orientals” made national headlines. Bost apologized, saying he had “used a poor choice of words.” His spokesman said that Bost had been referring to public humiliation sessions during China‘s Cultural Revolution.[40][41]

Farming

In April 2016, a Bost bill to change how the government defines farms and ranches as small businesses passed the House with bipartisan support.[42]

Health care

At a March 2017 “telephone town hall,” Bost spoke about health care with several constituents who criticized Obamacare. Bost expressed support for the new American Health Care Act, saying, “doing nothing is not an option.” He promised the new bill did not portend a return to pre-Obama health care. “It’s not intended to go back to what it was prior to the Affordable Care Act,” Bost said. “We have to move forward because the system is collapsing.” He also praised “plans to strip money from Planned Parenthood and shift it to local health departments that help with women’s needs.”[43] On May 4, 2017, Bost voted for the act.[44]

Tax reform

Bost voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017,[45] saying he believed the bill would enable businesses to compete globally and thereby improve the economy. The individual tax cuts expire in 2022. Bost wants to make them permanent.[46]

In December 2017, Bost signed a letter requesting that two education-related portions of the Internal Revenue code, one providing tuition breaks and the other incentivizing employees “to accept tax-free educational assistance from employers,” be left unchanged in the new tax bill. The letter pointed out that seven out of ten college students graduate with student loan debt, which “harms our economy because it prevents many young adults from buying a house, purchasing a car or saving for retirement.”[47]

Cannabis

Bost has a “D” rating from marijuana legalization advocacy organization the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) for his voting history regarding cannabis-related causes.[48]

Texas v. Pennsylvania

In December 2020, Bost was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated[49] incumbent Donald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.[50][51][52]

LGBT rights

In 2015, Bost condemned the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which held that same-sex marriage bans violated the constitution.[53]

In 2021, Bost was one of 29 Republicans to vote to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.[54] This bill expanded legal protections for transgender people, and contained provisions allowing transgender women to use women’s shelters and serve time in prisons matching their gender identity.[55]

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

Bost was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.[56]

Israel

Bost voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[57][58]

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress:[59]

Caucus memberships

Electoral history

Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 1992[65]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticGerald Hawkins 22,494 54.61
RepublicanMike Bost18,70045.39
Total votes41,194 100.0
Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 1994[66]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost 17,004 56.21
DemocraticGerald Hawkins (incumbent)13,24543.79
Total votes30,249 100.0
Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 1996[67]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 19,561 51.82
DemocraticJohn S. Rendleman18,18848.18
Total votes37,749 100.0
Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 1998[68]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 18,523 55.11
DemocraticDon Strom15,08744.89
Total votes33,610 100.0
Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 2000[69]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 24,137 62.70
DemocraticRobert L. Koehn14,36237.30
Total votes38,499 100.0
Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 2002[70]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 20,338 60.55
DemocraticGerald Deering11,10233.05
Illinois Green PartyRich Whitney2,1506.40
Total votes33,590 100.0
Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 2004[71]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 27,984 59.99
DemocraticMic Middleton14,80431.74
GreenRich Whitney3,8598.27
Total votes46,647 100.0
Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 2006[72]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 23,289 77.87
GreenCharlie Howe6,62022.13
Total votes29,909 100.0
Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 2008[73]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 26,506 57.54
DemocraticCheryl Graff16,51535.85
GreenCharlie Howe3,0416.60
Total votes46,062 100.0
Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 2010[74]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 22,820 74.43
GreenCharlie Howe7,83925.57
Total votes30,659 100.0
Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 2012[75]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 37,192 100.0
Total votes37,192 100.0
Illinois 12th Congressional District General Election, 2014[76]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost 110,038 52.46
DemocraticWilliam L. “Bill” Enyart (incumbent)87,86041.89
GreenPaula Bradshaw11,8405.65
Total votes209,738 100.0
Illinois 12th Congressional District General Election, 2016[77]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 169,976 54.31
DemocraticCharles “C.J.” Baricevic124,24639.69
GreenPaula Bradshaw18,7806.00
Total votes313,002 100.0
Illinois 12th Congressional District Republican Primary, 2018[78]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 31,658 83.50
RepublicanPreston Nelson6,25816.50
Total votes37,916 100.0
Illinois 12th Congressional District General Election, 2018[79]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 134,884 51.57
DemocraticBrendan Kelly118,72445.39
GreenRandy Auxier7,9353.03
Total votes261,543 100.0
Illinois’s 12th congressional district, 2020[32][33]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 194,839 60.43 +8.86%
DemocraticRaymond Lenzi127,57739.57-5.82%
Total votes322,416 100.0
Republican hold
Illinois’s 12th congressional district, 2022[80]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 218,379 75.0
DemocraticChip Markel72,79125.0
Write-in10.0
Total votes291,171 100.0

Personal life

Bost and his wife, Tracy, have three children, including Judge Steven Bost of Illinois’s 1st Circuit,[81] and 11 grandchildren. He has said that his political hero is John Alexander Logan, an Illinois Democrat who had switched parties when the Civil War began. “He was willing to break ranks to do what was right,” Bost explained.[13]

Legal trouble

In 1986, his daughter required stitches after being bitten by a beagle after chasing it. Unsatisfied with authorities’ lack of an immediate response, Bost drove to the dog’s owner’s home and shot the dog dead with a handgun while it was in its enclosure. He was arrested and charged with criminal damage to property and reckless misconduct in relation to the incident, but was acquitted at trial.[82][83] In 2014, Bost joked to a reporter about the killing.[84]

In 2006, authorities confronted Bost after he failed to report that his gun was stolen after it was used to threaten another man’s life. He led authorities to his gun safe, which contained a bottle of whiskey and no gun.[82][83]

References

  1. ^ “Illinois-12: Mike Bost (R)”. NationalJournal.com. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  2. ^ Moser, Whet (May 31, 2012). “The Politics of Mike Bost’s Pension Rant: Upstate, Downstate”. Chicago Magazine. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  3. ^ “Representative Mike Bost (R)”. Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  4. ^ Vaughn, Lindsey Rae (July 10, 2014). “Candidate makes stops in Union County”. Gazette-Democrat. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  5. ^ “BOST, Mike”. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  6. ^ “Final Illinois House Endorsements”. Chicago Tribune. October 21, 1994. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  7. ^ Peters, Gerhard; Woolley, John T., eds. (November 8, 2007). “Press Release: Thompson Campaign Announces Illinois Leadership Team”. The American Presidency Project. University of California, Santa Barbara. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  8. ^ Mcceland, Jacob (October 25, 2014). “Ranting And Throwing Papers: An Angry Candidate Runs For Congress”. NPR.
  9. ^ “Bost rant on House floor goes viral”. The Southern. May 30, 2012.
  10. ^ “Watch: Ill. lawmaker loses cool over pension bill”. CBS News. May 30, 2012.
  11. ^ Moos, Jeanne (January 20, 2014). “Richard Sherman’s rant now among the best celebrity flip outs of all-time”. CNN. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  12. ^ a b c Wicklander, Carl (March 2, 2014). “Large Percentage of Undecided Voters in IL-12 Leaves Election a Toss-Up”. Independent Voter Network. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  13. ^ a b c d “Meet Mike Bost, a Must-Watch Freshman Congressman”. NBC News. November 17, 2014.
  14. ^ Mariano, Nick (November 25, 2013). “Salute to success: NAACP gather for banquet; reminder of work that remains”. The Southern. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  15. ^ “Bill Status of HR0706 98th General Assembly”. Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  16. ^ Parker, Molly (December 5, 2014). “Bost to Resign Early From State House, Heading to DC”. The Southern Illinoisian. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  17. ^ “Murphysboro’s Bryant Sworn In As State Rep”. Murphysboro American. January 2, 2015. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.
  18. ^ “Representative Mike Bost (R)”. Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  19. ^ McDermott, Kevin (March 26, 2014). “Paper-flinging Illinois candidate Mike Bost being highlighted by national Republicans”. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  20. ^ “Pat Quinn Could be Drag on Illinois Democrats”. August 20, 2014.
  21. ^ “Illinois’ 12th District Contenders Highlight Differences”. News.stlpublicradio.org. October 16, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  22. ^ Hale, Caleb (July 27, 2013). “Murphysboro state legislator says it’s time”. The Southern. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  23. ^ Wicklander, Carl (July 14, 2014). “Ill. GOP Hopeful Mike Bost Forms Small Business Coalition to Compete in CD-12”. Independent Voter News. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  24. ^ Grimm, Nathan (August 7, 2014). “Illinois Chamber endorses Bost for representative”. The Telegraph. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  25. ^ “Illinois Election Results”. New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  26. ^ “Illinois House results — 2014 Election Center — Elections and Politics from CNN.com”. CNN. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  27. ^ Croessman, John (March 29, 2016). “Baricevic challenges Mike Bost”. Benton Evening News. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  28. ^ Wall, Tobias (November 8, 2016). “Bost holds off Baricevic, Bradshaw in 12th Congressional District”. Belleville News-Democrat. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  29. ^ Davenport, Cory. “U.S. Congressman Mike Bost accepts teachers’ union endorsement”. River Bender. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  30. ^ “Mike Bost”. Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  31. ^ “Election Results 2020 GENERAL PRIMARY”. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 17, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  32. ^ a b “Election Results 2020 GENERAL ELECTION”. Illinois State Board of Elections. December 4, 2020. Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  33. ^ a b “Illinois 2020 Election Results”. Chicago Sun-Times. November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  34. ^ Kapos, Shia (July 4, 2023). “Illinois Republican Darren Bailey challenges Rep. Mike Bost”. POLITICO. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  35. ^ Raasch, Chuck (January 6, 2015). “Mike Bost sworn in as area’s only new U.S. House member”. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  36. ^ Esters, Stephanie (June 14, 2017). “U.S. Rep. Mike Bost’s office had contact with suspect in shooting that wounded congressman”. The Southern Illinoisan.
  37. ^ RMSP Staff (2015). “Republican Main Street Partnership (RMPS): About”. RepublicanMainStreet.org. Washington, DC: RMSP. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  38. ^ RMSP Staff (2015). “Republican Main Street Partnership (RMPS): Members”. RepublicanMainStreet.org. Washington, DC: RMSP. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  39. ^ “Membership”. Republican Study Committee. Archived from the original on November 6, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  40. ^ Phillips, Kristine (March 4, 2017). ‘The cleansing’ by ‘the Orientals’: Lawmaker uses offensive term to describe raucous town halls”. Washington Post.
  41. ^ “Illinois Rep. Mike Bost compares town halls to ‘cleansing’ by ‘Orientals’. CBS News. March 3, 2017.
  42. ^ Raasch, Chuck (April 19, 2016). “House passes Bost bill updating definition of small farm businesses”. St. Louis Post Dispatch. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  43. ^ Bustos, Joseph (March 15, 2017). “Bost talks health care, Russia, NGA during telephone town hall”. Belleville News Democrat.
  44. ^ Aisch, Gregor (May 4, 2017). “How Every Member Voted on the House Health Care Bill”. New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  45. ^ Almukhtar, Sarah (December 19, 2017). “How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill”. The New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  46. ^ Richard, Brandon. “Congressman Bost predicts tax law will become more popular”. WSIL3. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  47. ^ Smith, lIsaac (December 14, 2017). “Rep. Mike Bost signs letter opposing plan to tax graduate stipends”. The Southern Illinoisan.
  48. ^ “Illinois Scorecard”. NORML. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  49. ^ Blood, Michael R.; Riccardi, Nicholas (December 5, 2020). “Biden officially secures enough electors to become president”. AP News. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  50. ^ Liptak, Adam (December 11, 2020). “Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  51. ^ “Order in Pending Case” (PDF). Supreme Court of the United States. December 11, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  52. ^ Diaz, Daniella. “Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court”. CNN. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  53. ^ Skiba, Katherine (June 26, 2015). “Most Illinois pols praise Supreme Court’s ruling making gay marriage legal”. chicagotribune.com. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  54. ^ “Roll Call 86 Roll Call 86, Bill Number: H. R. 1620, 117th Congress, 1st Session”. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. March 17, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  55. ^ Davis, Susan (March 17, 2021). “House Renews Violence Against Women Act, But Senate Hurdles Remain”. NPR. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  56. ^ Gans, Jared (May 31, 2023). “Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no”. The Hill. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  57. ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). “House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  58. ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (October 25, 2023). “Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session”. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 30, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  59. ^ “Mike Bost”. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  60. ^ “Member List”. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  61. ^ “Committees and Caucuses”. Congressman Mike Bost. December 13, 2012. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  62. ^ “MEMBERS”. RMSP. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  63. ^ “Problem Solvers Caucus Announces Membership and Executive Council for the 118th Congress”. March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  64. ^ “Featured Members”. Problem Solvers Caucus. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  65. ^ Illinois blue book, 1993-1994. Office of Illinois Secretary of State. 1994. p. 409. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  66. ^ Illinois blue book, 1995-1996. Office of Illinois Secretary of State. 1996. p. 412. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  67. ^ Illinois blue book, 1997-1998. Office of Illinois Secretary of State. 1998. p. 414. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  68. ^ “Election Results 1998 GENERAL ELECTION”. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  69. ^ “Election Results 2000 GENERAL ELECTION”. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  70. ^ “Election Results 2002 GENERAL ELECTION”. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  71. ^ “Election Results 2004 GENERAL ELECTION”. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  72. ^ “Election Results 2006 GENERAL ELECTION”. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  73. ^ “Election Results 2008 GENERAL ELECTION”. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  74. ^ “Election Results 2010 GENERAL ELECTION”. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  75. ^ “Election Results 2012 GENERAL ELECTION”. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  76. ^ “Election Results 2014 GENERAL ELECTION”. Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  77. ^ “Election Results 2016 GENERAL ELECTION”. Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  78. ^ “Election Results 2018 GENERAL PRIMARY”. Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 12, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  79. ^ “Election Results 2018 GENERAL ELECTION”. Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  80. ^ “2022 General Election Results”.
  81. ^ Isringhausen Gvillo, Heather (February 19, 2021). “Jackson County Public Defender Steven Bost to fill Bleyer vacancy in First Judicial Circuit”. The Madison / St. Clair Record. Institute for Legal Reform. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  82. ^ a b “Illinois GOP candidate Mike Bost once shot and killed a beagle”. September 30, 2014.
  83. ^ a b “Dog-shooting incident is latest hot topic in Illinois congressional race”. October 6, 2014.
  84. ^ “Congressional Candidate Mike Bost Makes Dog-Killing Joke”. October 24, 2014.

External links

Illinois House of Representatives
Preceded by

Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 115th district

1995–2015
Succeeded by

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois’s 12th congressional district

2015–present
Incumbent
Preceded by

Chair of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee
2023–present
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by

United States representatives by seniority
160th
Succeeded by


Wikipedia

Michael Joseph Bost (/ˈbɔːst/ BAWST; born December 30, 1960) is an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, he has served as the U.S. representative for Illinois's 12th congressional district since 2015. From 1995 to 2015, Bost was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 115th district. Before holding elected office, he was a firefighter.

Early life and career

Bost was raised Baptist[1] and graduated from Murphysboro High School.[2] He attended a firefighter academy program offered by the University of Illinois, later becoming a firefighter. Bost did not complete a college degree. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1979 to 1982.[3]

Bost ran his family's trucking business for ten years. Since 1989, he and his wife Tracy have owned and operated White House Salon in Murphysboro.[4]

Bost was a member of the Jackson County Board from 1984 to 1988, the treasurer of Murphysboro Township from 1989 to 1992, and trustee of Murphysboro Township from 1993 to 1995, until his election to the Illinois House of Representatives.[5]

Illinois State Legislature

Bost was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in November 1994, having lost his first campaign in 1992. In his 1994 campaign against incumbent Gerald Hawkins, he was endorsed by the Chicago Tribune.[6]

During the 2008 Republican Party presidential primaries, Bost worked on former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson's presidential campaign, serving as a congressional district chair for Illinois's 12th congressional district.[7]

In May 2012, members of the Illinois House were given just 20 minutes to review and vote on a 200-page pension overhaul bill that had been revised at the last minute. Displeased with the situation, Bost expressed his anger on the House floor, saying, "These damn bills that come out of here all the damn time...come out here at the last second, and I've got to try figure out how to vote for my people!...Enough! I feel like somebody trying to be released from Egypt! Let my people go!" An opponent ran ads focusing on Bost's anger, but many voters, according to NPR, "see his fury as well-placed."[8][9][10] (His phrasing may have been a play on words, due to his district being located in the "Little Egypt" region of Southern Illinois, so named because of its location on the Mississippi River and its proximity to the city of Cairo.) Bost's rant earned him the runner-up spot on CNN's list of "Best Celebrity Flip-Outs of All-Time".[11] He joked about his inclusion on the list, saying "I thought I was going to be No. 1",[12] and later said he had been "angry at how legislators pushed a bill through and how Governor Pat Quinn was running Illinois."[13]

In November 2013, Bost presented fellow U.S. Marine Archibald Mosley with Illinois House Resolution 706 for his lifetime accomplishments, including being among the first African-Americans to serve in the Marines. The presentation was part of a NAACP program.[14][15]

After the 2014 elections, Bost resigned early from the House to take office in Congress.[16] He was succeeded by Terri Bryant.[17]

Committees

Bost served on the following state legislative committees:[18]

  • Appropriations-Higher Education
  • Bio-Technology
  • Higher Education
  • Public Utilities

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2014

In 2014 Bost ran for U.S. Congress in Illinois's 12th congressional district. He was unopposed in the Republican primary, and faced the incumbent, William Enyart, in the general election.[19]

Illinois's largely agricultural 12th district was historically Democratic-leaning, but had been trending Republican, with President Obama having carried it by only 2 percentage points in 2012. Enyart was considered vulnerable as a freshman member in a competitive seat. Additionally, Democratic Governor Pat Quinn, who was running for reelection in 2014, was unpopular in the district.[12] The Cook Political Report rated the race a "Toss Up" and the National Journal ranked the district the 21st most likely to flip Republican in 2014.[12][20]

In a radio interview, Bost said some scientists believe in anthropogenic climate change while other scientists do not.[21]

Bost said he ran because "the federal government has basically blown everything they are doing right now." He said he intended to fight for job growth and immigration reform.[22] He challenged Enyart to as many as 12 debates.[23] Bost was endorsed by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.[24]

Bost won the election with 53% of the vote to Enyart's 42%, with Green Party candidate Paula Bradshaw taking 6%.[25] He won primarily by dominating the areas of the district outside the St. Louis suburbs, taking all but three of the district's 12 counties.[26] He also benefited from the coattails of Bruce Rauner's successful run for governor; Rauner carried every county in the district.

After being elected to the House, Bost said he did not plan to acquire a second residence, but would sleep in his office while in Washington.[13]

2016

Bost ran for reelection in 2016. He was unopposed in the Republican primary, and faced Democrat C.J. Baricevic and Green Party candidate Paula Bradshaw in the general election.[27] Bost won the November 8 general election with 54% of the vote.[28]

Bost was endorsed by the Illinois Education Association, Illinois's largest labor union. In its endorsement, the union cited Bost's "strong record in support of public education in the Metro East and Southern Illinois."[29]

2018

Bost ran for reelection in 2018. In the Republican primary, he defeated challenger Preston Nelson with 83.5% of the vote. In the general election, Bost defeated Democratic nominee Brendan Kelly with 51.8% of the vote to Kelly's 45.2%. Green Party candidate Randy Auxier took 3%.[30]

2020

Bost won the Republican primary unopposed.[31] In the 2020 general election, Bost won with 60.4% of the vote.[32][33]

2022

Bost won the Republican primary unopposed. In the 2022 general election, Bost won with 75% of the vote.

2024

Bost is being challenged in the Republican primary by former state senator and 2022 gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey, making this his second challenge in a U.S. House primary.[34]

Tenure

Bost was sworn into office on January 6, 2015.[35]

In November 2014, Bost described President Obama, his former colleague in the Illinois legislature, as a "fluke" and said that "nobody ever thought he was going to rise." He recalled a time when Obama, speaking to a group of reporters as Bost walked by, had said to them: "There you have it, one of the rich Republicans." Bost purportedly responded, "that just proves you don't know me at all." He said that was his last exchange with Obama.[13]

After James Hodgkinson shot at GOP congressmen who were playing baseball in Virginia on June 14, 2017, injuring Steve Scalise, Bost said that his office had previously received phone calls from the attacker. "He's contacted us just about 10 times, on every issue," Bost said. "[He] was argumentative, but never threatening."[36]

Bost is a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership, which described itself, as of 2015, as "a coalition of over 70 members... who stand for strong, conservative principles in economic and national security policy and believe in governing in a thoughtful and pragmatic manner".[37][third-party source needed][38] and the conservative Republican Study Committee.[39]

At a March 2017 meeting with editors of the Southern Illinoisan, Bost said that he did not do "town halls" because they had become too combative. "You know the cleansing that the Orientals used to do where you'd put one person out in front and 900 people yell at them? That's not what we need. We need to have meetings with people that are productive." His use of the word "Orientals" made national headlines. Bost apologized, saying he had "used a poor choice of words." His spokesman said that Bost had been referring to public humiliation sessions during China's Cultural Revolution.[40][41]

Farming

In April 2016, a Bost bill to change how the government defines farms and ranches as small businesses passed the House with bipartisan support.[42]

Health care

At a March 2017 "telephone town hall," Bost spoke about health care with several constituents who criticized Obamacare. Bost expressed support for the new American Health Care Act, saying, "doing nothing is not an option." He promised the new bill did not portend a return to pre-Obama health care. "It's not intended to go back to what it was prior to the Affordable Care Act," Bost said. "We have to move forward because the system is collapsing." He also praised "plans to strip money from Planned Parenthood and shift it to local health departments that help with women's needs."[43] On May 4, 2017, Bost voted for the act.[44]

Tax reform

Bost voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017,[45] saying he believed the bill would enable businesses to compete globally and thereby improve the economy. The individual tax cuts expire in 2022. Bost wants to make them permanent.[46]

In December 2017, Bost signed a letter requesting that two education-related portions of the Internal Revenue code, one providing tuition breaks and the other incentivizing employees "to accept tax-free educational assistance from employers," be left unchanged in the new tax bill. The letter pointed out that seven out of ten college students graduate with student loan debt, which "harms our economy because it prevents many young adults from buying a house, purchasing a car or saving for retirement."[47]

Cannabis

Bost has a "D" rating from marijuana legalization advocacy organization the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) for his voting history regarding cannabis-related causes.[48]

Texas v. Pennsylvania

In December 2020, Bost was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated[49] incumbent Donald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.[50][51][52]

LGBT rights

In 2015, Bost condemned the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which held that same-sex marriage bans violated the constitution.[53]

In 2021, Bost was one of 29 Republicans to vote to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.[54] This bill expanded legal protections for transgender people, and contained provisions allowing transgender women to use women's shelters and serve time in prisons matching their gender identity.[55]

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

Bost was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.[56]

Israel

Bost voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[57][58]

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress:[59]

Caucus memberships

Electoral history

Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 1992[65]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticGerald Hawkins 22,494 54.61
RepublicanMike Bost18,70045.39
Total votes41,194 100.0
Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 1994[66]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost 17,004 56.21
DemocraticGerald Hawkins (incumbent)13,24543.79
Total votes30,249 100.0
Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 1996[67]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 19,561 51.82
DemocraticJohn S. Rendleman18,18848.18
Total votes37,749 100.0
Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 1998[68]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 18,523 55.11
DemocraticDon Strom15,08744.89
Total votes33,610 100.0
Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 2000[69]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 24,137 62.70
DemocraticRobert L. Koehn14,36237.30
Total votes38,499 100.0
Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 2002[70]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 20,338 60.55
DemocraticGerald Deering11,10233.05
Illinois Green PartyRich Whitney2,1506.40
Total votes33,590 100.0
Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 2004[71]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 27,984 59.99
DemocraticMic Middleton14,80431.74
GreenRich Whitney3,8598.27
Total votes46,647 100.0
Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 2006[72]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 23,289 77.87
GreenCharlie Howe6,62022.13
Total votes29,909 100.0
Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 2008[73]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 26,506 57.54
DemocraticCheryl Graff16,51535.85
GreenCharlie Howe3,0416.60
Total votes46,062 100.0
Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 2010[74]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 22,820 74.43
GreenCharlie Howe7,83925.57
Total votes30,659 100.0
Illinois 115th State House District General Election, 2012[75]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 37,192 100.0
Total votes37,192 100.0
Illinois 12th Congressional District General Election, 2014[76]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost 110,038 52.46
DemocraticWilliam L. "Bill" Enyart (incumbent)87,86041.89
GreenPaula Bradshaw11,8405.65
Total votes209,738 100.0
Illinois 12th Congressional District General Election, 2016[77]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 169,976 54.31
DemocraticCharles "C.J." Baricevic124,24639.69
GreenPaula Bradshaw18,7806.00
Total votes313,002 100.0
Illinois 12th Congressional District Republican Primary, 2018[78]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 31,658 83.50
RepublicanPreston Nelson6,25816.50
Total votes37,916 100.0
Illinois 12th Congressional District General Election, 2018[79]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 134,884 51.57
DemocraticBrendan Kelly118,72445.39
GreenRandy Auxier7,9353.03
Total votes261,543 100.0
Illinois's 12th congressional district, 2020[32][33]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 194,839 60.43 +8.86%
DemocraticRaymond Lenzi127,57739.57-5.82%
Total votes322,416 100.0
Republican hold
Illinois's 12th congressional district, 2022[80]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanMike Bost (incumbent) 218,379 75.0
DemocraticChip Markel72,79125.0
Write-in10.0
Total votes291,171 100.0

Personal life

Bost and his wife, Tracy, have three children, including Judge Steven Bost of Illinois's 1st Circuit,[81] and 11 grandchildren. He has said that his political hero is John Alexander Logan, an Illinois Democrat who had switched parties when the Civil War began. "He was willing to break ranks to do what was right," Bost explained.[13]

Legal trouble

In 1986, his daughter required stitches after being bitten by a beagle after chasing it. Unsatisfied with authorities' lack of an immediate response, Bost drove to the dog's owner's home and shot the dog dead with a handgun while it was in its enclosure. He was arrested and charged with criminal damage to property and reckless misconduct in relation to the incident, but was acquitted at trial.[82][83] In 2014, Bost joked to a reporter about the killing.[84]

In 2006, authorities confronted Bost after he failed to report that his gun was stolen after it was used to threaten another man's life. He led authorities to his gun safe, which contained a bottle of whiskey and no gun.[82][83]

References

  1. ^ "Illinois-12: Mike Bost (R)". NationalJournal.com. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  2. ^ Moser, Whet (May 31, 2012). "The Politics of Mike Bost's Pension Rant: Upstate, Downstate". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  3. ^ "Representative Mike Bost (R)". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  4. ^ Vaughn, Lindsey Rae (July 10, 2014). "Candidate makes stops in Union County". Gazette-Democrat. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  5. ^ "BOST, Mike". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  6. ^ "Final Illinois House Endorsements". Chicago Tribune. October 21, 1994. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  7. ^ Peters, Gerhard; Woolley, John T., eds. (November 8, 2007). "Press Release: Thompson Campaign Announces Illinois Leadership Team". The American Presidency Project. University of California, Santa Barbara. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  8. ^ Mcceland, Jacob (October 25, 2014). "Ranting And Throwing Papers: An Angry Candidate Runs For Congress". NPR.
  9. ^ "Bost rant on House floor goes viral". The Southern. May 30, 2012.
  10. ^ "Watch: Ill. lawmaker loses cool over pension bill". CBS News. May 30, 2012.
  11. ^ Moos, Jeanne (January 20, 2014). "Richard Sherman's rant now among the best celebrity flip outs of all-time". CNN. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  12. ^ a b c Wicklander, Carl (March 2, 2014). "Large Percentage of Undecided Voters in IL-12 Leaves Election a Toss-Up". Independent Voter Network. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  13. ^ a b c d "Meet Mike Bost, a Must-Watch Freshman Congressman". NBC News. November 17, 2014.
  14. ^ Mariano, Nick (November 25, 2013). "Salute to success: NAACP gather for banquet; reminder of work that remains". The Southern. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  15. ^ "Bill Status of HR0706 98th General Assembly". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  16. ^ Parker, Molly (December 5, 2014). "Bost to Resign Early From State House, Heading to DC". The Southern Illinoisian. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  17. ^ "Murphysboro's Bryant Sworn In As State Rep". Murphysboro American. January 2, 2015. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.
  18. ^ "Representative Mike Bost (R)". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  19. ^ McDermott, Kevin (March 26, 2014). "Paper-flinging Illinois candidate Mike Bost being highlighted by national Republicans". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  20. ^ "Pat Quinn Could be Drag on Illinois Democrats". August 20, 2014.
  21. ^ "Illinois' 12th District Contenders Highlight Differences". News.stlpublicradio.org. October 16, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  22. ^ Hale, Caleb (July 27, 2013). "Murphysboro state legislator says it's time". The Southern. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  23. ^ Wicklander, Carl (July 14, 2014). "Ill. GOP Hopeful Mike Bost Forms Small Business Coalition to Compete in CD-12". Independent Voter News. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  24. ^ Grimm, Nathan (August 7, 2014). "Illinois Chamber endorses Bost for representative". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  25. ^ "Illinois Election Results". New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  26. ^ "Illinois House results -- 2014 Election Center -- Elections and Politics from CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  27. ^ Croessman, John (March 29, 2016). "Baricevic challenges Mike Bost". Benton Evening News. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  28. ^ Wall, Tobias (November 8, 2016). "Bost holds off Baricevic, Bradshaw in 12th Congressional District". Belleville News-Democrat. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  29. ^ Davenport, Cory. "U.S. Congressman Mike Bost accepts teachers' union endorsement". River Bender. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  30. ^ "Mike Bost". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  31. ^ "Election Results 2020 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 17, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  32. ^ a b "Election Results 2020 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. December 4, 2020. Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  33. ^ a b "Illinois 2020 Election Results". Chicago Sun-Times. November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  34. ^ Kapos, Shia (July 4, 2023). "Illinois Republican Darren Bailey challenges Rep. Mike Bost". POLITICO. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  35. ^ Raasch, Chuck (January 6, 2015). "Mike Bost sworn in as area's only new U.S. House member". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  36. ^ Esters, Stephanie (June 14, 2017). "U.S. Rep. Mike Bost's office had contact with suspect in shooting that wounded congressman". The Southern Illinoisan.
  37. ^ RMSP Staff (2015). "Republican Main Street Partnership (RMPS): About". RepublicanMainStreet.org. Washington, DC: RMSP. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  38. ^ RMSP Staff (2015). "Republican Main Street Partnership (RMPS): Members". RepublicanMainStreet.org. Washington, DC: RMSP. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  39. ^ "Membership". Republican Study Committee. Archived from the original on November 6, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  40. ^ Phillips, Kristine (March 4, 2017). "'The cleansing' by 'the Orientals': Lawmaker uses offensive term to describe raucous town halls". Washington Post.
  41. ^ "Illinois Rep. Mike Bost compares town halls to 'cleansing' by 'Orientals'". CBS News. March 3, 2017.
  42. ^ Raasch, Chuck (April 19, 2016). "House passes Bost bill updating definition of small farm businesses". St. Louis Post Dispatch. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  43. ^ Bustos, Joseph (March 15, 2017). "Bost talks health care, Russia, NGA during telephone town hall". Belleville News Democrat.
  44. ^ Aisch, Gregor (May 4, 2017). "How Every Member Voted on the House Health Care Bill". New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  45. ^ Almukhtar, Sarah (December 19, 2017). "How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill". The New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  46. ^ Richard, Brandon. "Congressman Bost predicts tax law will become more popular". WSIL3. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  47. ^ Smith, lIsaac (December 14, 2017). "Rep. Mike Bost signs letter opposing plan to tax graduate stipends". The Southern Illinoisan.
  48. ^ "Illinois Scorecard". NORML. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  49. ^ Blood, Michael R.; Riccardi, Nicholas (December 5, 2020). "Biden officially secures enough electors to become president". AP News. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  50. ^ Liptak, Adam (December 11, 2020). "Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  51. ^ "Order in Pending Case" (PDF). Supreme Court of the United States. December 11, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  52. ^ Diaz, Daniella. "Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court". CNN. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  53. ^ Skiba, Katherine (June 26, 2015). "Most Illinois pols praise Supreme Court's ruling making gay marriage legal". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  54. ^ "Roll Call 86 Roll Call 86, Bill Number: H. R. 1620, 117th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. March 17, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  55. ^ Davis, Susan (March 17, 2021). "House Renews Violence Against Women Act, But Senate Hurdles Remain". NPR. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  56. ^ Gans, Jared (May 31, 2023). "Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no". The Hill. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  57. ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
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  63. ^ "Problem Solvers Caucus Announces Membership and Executive Council for the 118th Congress". March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  64. ^ "Featured Members". Problem Solvers Caucus. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
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  71. ^ "Election Results 2004 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  72. ^ "Election Results 2006 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  73. ^ "Election Results 2008 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  74. ^ "Election Results 2010 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
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  77. ^ "Election Results 2016 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  78. ^ "Election Results 2018 GENERAL PRIMARY". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 12, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
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  81. ^ Isringhausen Gvillo, Heather (February 19, 2021). "Jackson County Public Defender Steven Bost to fill Bleyer vacancy in First Judicial Circuit". The Madison / St. Clair Record. Institute for Legal Reform. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  82. ^ a b "Illinois GOP candidate Mike Bost once shot and killed a beagle". September 30, 2014.
  83. ^ a b "Dog-shooting incident is latest hot topic in Illinois congressional race". October 6, 2014.
  84. ^ "Congressional Candidate Mike Bost Makes Dog-Killing Joke". October 24, 2014.

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Illinois House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 115th district

1995–2015
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 12th congressional district

2015–present
Incumbent
Preceded by Chair of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee
2023–present
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
160th
Succeeded by

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