Trump-Supported Rep. Bost Defeats Gaetz-Backed Bailey in Illinois Primary

Republican candidate for Illinois governor Darren Bailey speaks to voters during a campaign stop in Athens, Ill., on June 14, 2022. (John O'Connor/AP Photo)

Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), the incumbent in Illinois’ 12th District, has kept his seat in a tight GOP primary battle with Darren Bailey, a former state representative who previously lost the gubernatorial election to Democrat J.B. Pritzker.

The race was close. The Associated Press didn’t call it until 10:14 a.m. on March 20, on the morning after the primary.

Some polling ahead of the contest had Mr. Bost ahead of his rival in the deep-red Downstate Illinois district.

Mr. Bailey’s endorsements included support from Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.), another Republican from the Land of Lincoln. Notably, firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), sometimes cast as the heir to former President Donald Trump, threw his weight behind Mr. Bailey ahead of the March 19 primary.

“I am inspired by Darren Bailey’s campaign for Congress,” Mr. Gaetz said several weeks ago.

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There’s no love lost between Mr. Gaetz and Mr. Bost, who yelled out during one of Mr. Gaetz’s speeches critical of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in early 2023.

Yet, Mr. Bost came to Election Day with the most prized endorsement of today’s Republicans, particularly those representing more conservative districts like the 12th—the backing of President Trump himself.

“While I like and respect Darren Bailey, and was proud to campaign for him in 2022, Mike Bost was one of the first House committee chairmen to endorse my campaign, and Mike was a stalwart supporter of our America First agenda during my record-setting administration,” President Trump wrote in a February 2024 Truth Social post.

Mr. Bost first entered Congress in 2015. He chairs the House Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Roll Call, citing AdImpact, reports that Mr. Bost’s campaign has been much better funded than Mr. Bailey’s, garnering $1.4 million to just $164,000 for Mr. Bailey.