Incumbent
Mike Bost
Incumbent Republican candidate for U.S. House in Illinois
$6.5K
NOV 7, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Live Odds — IL-12 House winner?
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
95.9%chance to win
$6.5KNOV 7, 2026Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleU.S. Representative
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age65 years old (Dec 30, 1960)
GenderMale
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LocationIllinois
BackgroundU.S. Representative
EducationMurphysboro High School (1979)
Notable personal detailsMichael Joseph "Mike" Bost is a U.S. Representative from Illinois's 12th congressional district, first elected in 2014 and serving since January 2015. Before Congress, he served in the Illinois House of Representatives (1995–2014) and worked as a firefighter and in the trucking industry. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1979 to 1982 and later completed the University of Illinois Certified Firefighter II Academy (1993).
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Political Positions
Economy & Taxes
Mike Bost supports simplifying the tax code, lowering tax rates rather than raising them, and emphasizing tax relief for working families and job creators. He also voted for legislation to make Trump tax cuts permanent, eliminate taxes on tips and overtime, and avert a large tax hike.
Healthcare
Mike Bost has backed repealing the Affordable Care Act and replacing it with patient-centric reforms. His official House page says he supports repeal of Obamacare and favors fiscally responsible reforms that reduce costs without sacrificing access to care.
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Immigration & Border
Mike Bost has consistently backed stricter border enforcement, including finishing the southern border wall, hiring more Border Patrol agents, and ending catch-and-release. He has also opposed a pathway to citizenship for people who entered the country illegally and supported measures against sanctuary policies and executive amnesty.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Mike Bost supports overturning Roe v. Wade and leaving abortion regulation to the states. He opposes taxpayer funding for abortions, supports defunding Planned Parenthood, and has backed legislation restricting abortion and requiring care for babies who survive abortion procedures.
Climate & Energy
Mike Bost emphasizes expanding domestic oil, natural gas, coal, and biofuel production as a path to lower energy prices, jobs, and energy independence. He also criticizes opposition to fossil fuels and has opposed climate-focused spending he describes as costly or job-killing.
Public Safety & Guns
Mike Bost has opposed major gun control bills and argued that new restrictions can infringe on law-abiding citizens’ Second Amendment rights. He has also backed narrower gun-safety measures like regulating bump stocks and protecting veterans from losing firearm rights without due process. He frames his approach as preserving gun ownership rights while supporting commonsense safety limits.
Latest News
Mike Bost is being mentioned in coverage of the 2026 redistricting battles, where new congressional maps in several states could reshape House races and candidate filing. The reports do not give any specific new action or statement from Bost himself. Overall, the news around him is tied to the broader fight over district lines and how they may affect future elections.
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Campaign Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Campaign finance totals from the latest available reporting period.
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LatestCycle 2022
Cycle 2024
Cycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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