About Mike
Mike Bost is running for U.S. Congress because he wants a better, brighter and more secure future for our children and grandchildren. Mike has and always will be the passionate, constitutional conservative voice for the people of Southern Illinois.
Mike Bost was born and raised in Murphysboro, Illinois. He and his wife, Tracy, have been married for over 40 years. They have three children and eleven grandchildren. Mike grew up working for Bost Trucking, a small business owned by his father and uncle. Mike did everything from hauling coal to washing trucks on weekends. Mike eventually helped run the business as dispatcher, truck manager, accountant and driver.
Mike learned the values of honesty and hard work from his parents and grandparents. He seeks to live those values every day.
Small Business Owner
For over 2 decades, Mike and Tracy have been successful small business owners. They know the value of balancing a budget, meeting a payroll, and making sure they don’t overspend.
Mike lives by those “lessons learned” as a U.S. Representative for Southern Illinois. He’s always fighting for the federal government to live within its means and to prioritize your tax dollars. He knows what it means to live within a budget- just as your family does and just as Mike and Tracy Bost do managing their business and household.
A Marine and Firefighter Fighting For Southern Illinois Values
Mike has an extensive and dedicated tradition of public service. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps right after high school. He served as an electronic specialist and radar repairman – receiving an honorable discharge as a Corporal E-4 in 1982.
Mike served as a firefighter for the Murphysboro Fire Department, both part-time and full-time. He steadfastly answered the call of duty to protect families by answering hundreds of emergency calls and fighting a number of fires.
After reading a newspaper article, Mike was fed up with what was happening in local government. When Tracy urged him to “shut up or get involved,” he got involved by running for Jackson County Board as a write-in candidate and ultimately won. He later served one term as Treasurer for the City of Murphysboro and a Trustee for Murphysboro Township.
Frustrated as a small business owner, Mike decided to run for the Illinois House because he was tired of government red tape and regulations that hindered economic growth. By taking his case directly to the people, Mike defeated an incumbent and began representing the most Democratically held district outside the Chicago area at the time.
Mike has been an outspoken critic of government’s wasteful spending and the growing role of government in our everyday lives. He’s been a strong advocate for Southern Illinois’ coal industry, educational institutions, agriculture, public sector workers and protecting gun rights. Yes, sometimes even passionately on the House floor.
Mike believes it is vitally important to bring Southern Illinois values to Washington, not the other way around.
Members of the House are responsible for introducing and voting on federal legislation, representing the interests of their constituents, and providing oversight of the executive branch. Key powers include drafting bills, serving on committees, approving the federal budget, and voting on matters of national policy, including declarations of war and presidential impeachments.