HOUSE
Illinois IL-12 House2026
RACE AT A GLANCE
RACE TYPE
Incumbent running
Mike Bost (R)
COOK PARTISAN VOTING INDEX
Last updated : Nov 17, 2025D +50
R +50
R +22
Race summary
Little Egypt hosted one of 2024’s hottest Republican proxy fights, with Rep. Mike Bost surviving a challenge from right-wing former state Sen. Darren Bailey by just three points. Now, Bailey’s potential 2026 plans are the talk of Downstate Illinois — and everyone is preparing for the possibility of a primary redux.Key Dates
Filing Deadline: Nov 3, 2025
Primary Election: Mar 17, 2026
INCUMBENT
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INCUMBENT
Full Bio:
BOST, Mike, a Representative from Illinois; born in Murphysboro, Jackson County,
Ill., December 30, 1960; graduated from Murphysboro High School, Murphysboro,
Ill., 1979; Certified Firefighter II Academy, University of Illinois, 1993;
United States Marine Corps, 1979-1982; truck manager; firefighter; business
owner; member of the Jackson County, Ill., board, 1984-1988; Murphysboro
Township, Ill., treasurer, 1989-1992; Murphysboro Township, Ill., trustee,
1993-1995; member of the Illinois state house of representatives, 1995-2014;
elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Fourteenth and to the succeeding
Congress (January 3, 2015-present).
Source: Bioguide
CANDIDATES
Democrats
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DISTRICT DATA
Illinois - 12
South: Effingham, Carbondale
Population Breakdown
Source: 2020 Census (VAP) for 2026
Past Presidential Results from this District
2024 Election Results
Source: Dave Leip
2020 Election Results
Source: Dave's Redistricting/VEST
RACE ANALYSIS
Race Analysis
Updated: Apr 23, 2025
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