Mike Bost
RepublicanU.S. Representative, IL-12| Age | 65 (b. 1960-12-30) |
| Gender | Male |
| In office since | 2015-01-06 (~11 yrs) |
| Race / ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Baptist (Christian) |
| Education | Graduated Murphysboro High School (1979); received Firefighter II Academy certification through the University of Illinois (1993). No college degree. |
| Prior occupation | Firefighter, family trucking business operator, and co-owner/operator of the White House Salon in Murphysboro |
| Military service | Yes: United States Marine Corps (Corporal) |
| Birthplace | Murphysboro, Illinois |
| Marital status | Married — Tracy Bost |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Murphysboro, Illinois |
| Notable relatives | Son Steven Bost is a judge in Illinois's 1st Judicial Circuit |
Pending research: languages · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 2014 |
| Previous offices | Jackson County Board member (1984-1988) · Murphysboro Township treasurer (1989-1992) · Murphysboro Township trustee (1993-1995) · Illinois House of Representatives, 115th district (1995-2015) |
| Committees | Committee on Veterans' Affairs (Chair) · Committee on Agriculture · Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure |
| Caucuses | Republican Study Committee · Republican Governance Group · Republican Main Street Partnership · Congressional Motorcycle Caucus · Congressional Western Caucus |
| Leadership | Chair, House Veterans' Affairs Committee (2023-present) · Ranking Member, House Veterans' Affairs Committee (2021-2023) · Chair, Republican Main Street Caucus (2021-2023) |
| Ideology | Conservative Republican; Heritage Action scorecard 91% for the 117th Congress and 76% for the 119th Congress |
| Signature legislation | April 2016 bill redefining farms and ranches as small businesses (passed with bipartisan support) · Sponsor of multiple enacted Veterans' Affairs bills as committee chair |
Financial
Net worth: disclosed + (2020) · estimate
| Real estate at 2101 Walnut Street, Murphysboro, IL | real_estate · $100,001–$250,000 · 2020 |
| White House Salon (family small business) | business_owned · 2020 |
Top industries: Agriculture · Transportation/Infrastructure · Leadership PACs
Scandals & crimes ledger
acquitted — 1986 dog shooting; charged with criminal damage to property and reckless conduct, acquitted
In 1986, after a neighbor's beagle bit Bost's young daughter (requiring stitches), Bost retrieved a handgun, drove to the dog owner's home, and shot and killed the penned dog. He was criminally charged with criminal damage to property and reckless misconduct/conduct, faced a jury trial, and was found not guilty (acquitted). The incident, predating his political career, resurfaced during his 2014 congressional campaign.
acquitted — Criminal Charges for Shooting Neighbor's Dog (People v. Bost)
In 1986, Bost's 4-year-old daughter was bitten by a neighbor's 10-year-old beagle named Rusty, requiring 19 stitches. Dissatisfied with authorities' inability to act immediately, Bost drove to the dog owner's property and shot the penned animal to death. He was charged with criminal damage to property and reckless misconduct. Because Bost was a sitting Jackson County Board member, a special prosecutor was appointed. A jury found him not guilty on both charges.