U.S. House · Illinois's 12th District

Southern Illinois, including Carbondale, Marion, and Mount Vernon.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

✓ Fact-checked 2026-09-25: 9 claims re-checked against their sources

A second, independent research pass re-opened every cited source for this race and corrected or removed anything the source didn’t support.

  • Verified biographical facts, committee assignments, and primary vote totals (Bost 100%/81,400; Fortier 100%/26,791) against Ballotpedia candidate pages; all matched. No changes made.

On the ballot · 2 candidates

Where they stand — side by side

Only positions documented in a cited source are shown. Where an officeholder’s recorded votes speak to an issue, the votes set the position (marked “votes”). A dash means we found no clear public position — not that the candidate has none.

ISSUEMike Bost
R
Julie Fortier
D
Protect legal access to abortionOpposes[26][27][28]votes—
Stricter gun lawsOpposes[21][22][23][24]votes—
Expand immigration enforcement and deportationsSupports[8][9][10][11][12][13][14]votes—
Raise taxes on high earners or corporationsOpposes[9][10][11][19][18]votes—
Expand public health coverageOpposes[9][10][11][15][16]votes—
Faster transition away from fossil fuelsOpposes[9][10][11][17][18]votes—
Raise the minimum wageOpposes[25]votes—
Broad tariffs on imported goodsSupports[20]votes—
Universal, publicly funded child careOpposes[17]votes—

The candidates, in full

Mike Bost

RINCUMBENTU.S. Representative (since 2015)

Won the March 17, 2026 Republican primary unopposed

Mike Bost is the Republican U.S. Representative for Illinois's 12th District, first elected in 2014. He previously served six terms in the Illinois House of Representatives (1995-2014) and worked in his family's trucking business.[1]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Key votes in Congress

  • NoWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · H. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · 2026-06-03 roll call ↗The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans.
  • NoResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · H.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · 2026-02-11 roll call ↗The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy.
  • YesConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government funding · H.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · 2026-02-03 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
  • NoBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · H.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · 2026-01-08 roll call ↗The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans.
  • NoWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela · H. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region.
  • YesNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · 2025-12-10 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year.
  • YesEpstein Files Transparency Act · H.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · 2025-11-18 roll call ↗The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support.
  • YesContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · 2025-11-12 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively.
  • YesCLARITY Act — digital asset market structure · H.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries.
  • YesGENIUS Act — stablecoin regulation · S. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law.
  • YesOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · 2025-07-03 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025.
  • YesRescissions Act of 2025 · H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · 2025-06-12 roll call ↗The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades.
  • YesOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · 2025-05-22 roll call ↗H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients.
  • YesSAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · H.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · 2025-04-10 roll call ↗The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls.
  • YesFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 · H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · 2025-03-11 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
  • YesLaken Riley Act — final passage · S. 5 · Passed 263–156 · 2025-01-22 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.
  • YesSecure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · H.R. 2 · Passed 219–213 · 2023-05-11 roll call ↗Would have resumed border-wall construction, restricted asylum eligibility, expanded detention, and mandated E-Verify for employers.
  • NoInflation Reduction Act — final House passage · H.R. 5376 · Passed 220–207 · 2022-08-12 roll call ↗Enacted clean-energy and climate tax credits, a 15% minimum tax on large corporations' book income, a 1% excise tax on stock buybacks, and Medicare drug-price negotiation.
  • NoAssault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · H.R. 1808 · Passed 217–213 · 2022-07-29 roll call ↗Would have banned the sale, manufacture and import of many semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.
  • NoWomen's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · H.R. 8296 · Passed 219–210 · 2022-07-15 roll call ↗Passed after Dobbs; would have created a federal statutory right to abortion services and limited state restrictions.
  • NoBipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · S. 2938 · Passed 234–193 · 2022-06-24 roll call ↗Expanded background checks for buyers under 21, funded state red-flag and crisis-intervention programs, and narrowed the "boyfriend loophole."
  • NoBuild Back Better Act — House passage · H.R. 5376 · Passed 220–213 · 2021-11-19 roll call ↗Would have funded clean-energy tax credits, universal pre-kindergarten and child-care subsidies, and extended health-coverage subsidies; it did not pass the Senate.
  • NoWomen's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · H.R. 3755 · Passed 218–211 · 2021-09-24 roll call ↗Would have created a federal statutory right for providers to offer, and patients to receive, abortion services, limiting state restrictions.
  • NoAmerican Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · H.R. 6 · Passed 228–197 · 2021-03-18 roll call ↗Would have created a path to permanent legal status for many undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and for certain TPS and DED holders.
  • NoRaise the Wage Act — House passage · H.R. 582 · Passed 231–199 · 2019-07-18 roll call ↗Would have raised the federal minimum wage in steps from $7.25 to $15 an hour by 2025.
  • NoAmerican Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · H.R. 6 · Passed 237–187 · 2019-06-04 roll call ↗Would have created a path to permanent legal status for many undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and for certain TPS and DED holders.
  • NoBipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · H.R. 8 · Passed 240–190 · 2019-02-27 roll call ↗Would have required background checks for most firearm transfers between private parties.
  • YesTax Cuts and Jobs Act — final House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 224–201 · 2017-12-20 roll call ↗Cut the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% and lowered individual rates, including the top rate from 39.6% to 37% (individual provisions set to expire after 2025).
  • YesConcealed Carry Reciprocity Act — House passage · H.R. 38 · Passed 231–198 · 2017-12-06 roll call ↗Would have required states to recognize concealed-carry permits issued by other states.
  • YesPain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act — House passage · H.R. 36 · Passed 237–189 · 2017-10-03 roll call ↗Would have banned most abortions after 20 weeks post-fertilization, with limited exceptions.
  • YesAmerican Health Care Act — House passage · H.R. 1628 · Passed 217–213 · 2017-05-04 roll call ↗Would have repealed the ACA individual mandate penalty, converted federal Medicaid funding to per-capita caps, and ended enhanced funding for the Medicaid expansion.

On the record — official actions

  • actionIn the 119th Congress (2025-2026), serves on the Committee on Agriculture (General Farm Commodities, Risk Management and Credit) and the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Highways and Transit; Railroads, Pipelines).[1]

Positions on the issues

  • OpposesProtect legal access to abortionFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755, 2021-09-24). Voted no on Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 (H.R. 8296, 2022-07-15). Voted yes on Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36, 2017-10-03).[26][27][28]

    What they say: Says he strongly supported the U.S. Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade and has voted against what he calls the "pro-abortion agenda," and supports defunding Planned Parenthood.[2]

    “I strongly supported the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and restore the American people’s power to determine for themselves how abortion services are regulated in their state.”
  • OpposesExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted no on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08). Voted yes on American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628, 2017-05-04), which would have capped federal Medicaid funding and ended enhanced funding for the Medicaid expansion.[9][10][11][15][16]

    What they say: Says he will continue to support repealing the Affordable Care Act and has voted to repeal it and eliminate its individual and employer mandates.[3]

    “This is why I will continue to support policies to repeal Obamacare and replace it with fiscally-responsible patient-centric reforms that help reduce costs without sacrificing access to care.”
  • OpposesFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits. Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19; 2022-08-12), which would have funded clean-energy tax credits.[9][10][11][17][18]

    What they say: Opposes limiting fossil-fuel and coal use, saying he will push for an "all-of-the-above" energy policy against those who oppose any use of fossil fuels.[6]

    “Unfortunately, despite the successes and benefits of these new technologies, there remain those opposed to any use of fossil fuels. A particular target has been coal.”
  • SupportsExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations. Voted yes on Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11). Voted no on American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6, 2019-06-04; 2021-03-18).[8][9][10][11][12][13][14]

  • OpposesRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03; 2017-12-20), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent. Voted no on Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376, 2022-08-12), which added a 15% minimum tax on large corporations and a stock-buyback excise tax.[9][10][11][19][18]

  • SupportsBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11).[20]

  • OpposesUniversal, publicly funded child careFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19), which would have funded universal pre-K and child-care subsidies.[17]

  • OpposesStricter gun lawsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8, 2019-02-27). Voted no on Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808, 2022-07-29). Voted no on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938, 2022-06-24). Voted yes on Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38, 2017-12-06).[21][22][23][24]

  • OpposesRaise the minimum wageFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582, 2019-07-18).[25]

In their words — priorities

  • Says his plan for health care is to continue supporting the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and replace it with fiscally responsible, patient-centered reforms.[3]
  • Says he is committed to maintaining the farm safety net established by the 2018 Farm Bill and reducing regulatory burdens on agriculture.[4]
  • Says Washington must stop spending money it doesn't have and focus on creating opportunities for job growth.[5]

Background

  • Born and raised in Murphysboro, Illinois; graduated Murphysboro High School in 1979.[1]
  • Served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1979 to 1982 as an electronic specialist and radar repairman, receiving an honorable discharge as a Corporal E-4.[1]
  • Served on the Jackson County Board (1984-1988) and as Treasurer of Murphysboro Township (1989-1992).[1]
  • Served six terms in the Illinois House of Representatives, District 115, from 1995 to 2014.[1]

Campaign money

Raised $1.3M · spent $890K · $790K cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Julie Fortier

D

Won the March 17, 2026 Democratic primary unopposed

Julie Fortier is the Democratic nominee for Illinois's 12th Congressional District. She is a U.S. Air Force veteran.[7]

Little public record found for this candidate.

Background

  • Served in the U.S. Air Force.[7]

Campaign money

Raised $88K · spent $28K · $60K cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Research notes & limits

No campaign website, public statements, or Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey found for Julie Fortier beyond her Air Force service; positions and priorities could not be documented.

Sources · 28

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.Mike Bost · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 2.Pro-Life Issues · Office of Rep. Mike Bost Official record
  3. 3.Health Care · Office of Rep. Mike Bost Official record
  4. 4.Agriculture · Office of Rep. Mike Bost Official record
  5. 5.Jobs & Economic Growth · Office of Rep. Mike Bost Official record
  6. 6.Energy · Office of Rep. Mike Bost Official record
  7. 7.Julie Fortier · Ballotpedia Reference
  8. 8.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  9. 9.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  10. 10.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  11. 11.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  12. 12.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  13. 13.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-06-04 Official record
  14. 14.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-03-18 Official record
  15. 15.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  16. 16.Roll call: American Health Care Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-05-04 Official record
  17. 17.Roll call: Build Back Better Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-11-19 Official record
  18. 18.Roll call: Inflation Reduction Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-08-12 Official record
  19. 19.Roll call: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-20 Official record
  20. 20.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
  21. 21.Roll call: Bipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-02-27 Official record
  22. 22.Roll call: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-29 Official record
  23. 23.Roll call: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-06-24 Official record
  24. 24.Roll call: Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-12-06 Official record
  25. 25.Roll call: Raise the Wage Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-07-18 Official record
  26. 26.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-09-24 Official record
  27. 27.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-15 Official record
  28. 28.Roll call: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2017-10-03 Official record