Mike Bost
U.S. Representative for IL-12 since 2015 and chair of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee; Marine veteran, former firefighter and state legislator.
Illinois 2026 › U.S. House IL-12
Illinois’ 12th Congressional District: who’s running on Nov. 3, 2026
2 candidates · Every summary links to its public source · Updated Oct 18, 2026
Summaries were compiled with AI assistance from public sources and are not independently verified. They may contain errors. Check the linked source.
Which candidate matches your views?
Compare on my issues →Pick your top 3 issues and see a match score in about a minute.
The candidates
Julie Fortier
Cancer research scientist with a Ph.D. in biomedical science; Air Force veteran and O'Fallon resident; first-time candidate.
Where they stand, issue by issue
Cost of living
1 = More gov. support5 = More free market
Bost4/5
Voted for the 2025 reconciliation law (H.R. 1) and promotes its tax and Medicaid/SNAP work-requirement provisions.
Sources: clerk.house.gov · bostforcongress.com
Fortier2/5
Supports raising the federal minimum wage, infrastructure investment and union jobs.
Health care
1 = Public option5 = Private choice
Bost5/5
Supports repealing and replacing the ACA and favors market competition over expanded premium subsidies.
Fortier1/5
Supports moving step by step toward universal coverage, starting with restoring ACA premium subsidies.
Immigration
1 = Expand pathways5 = Stricter limits
Bost5/5
Supports securing the border and current deportation efforts; voted for the Laken Riley Act.
Fortier2/5
Supports a citizenship path for vetted long-term residents, green cards for U.S.-educated STEM graduates and enforcement focused on serious criminals.
Source: news.wttw.com
Abortion
1 = Protect access5 = Restrict access
Bost5/5
Supports restricting abortion, opposes public funding of abortion and supports defunding Planned Parenthood.
Sources: bost.house.gov · bostforcongress.com
Fortier1/5
Supports codifying Roe v. Wade in federal law.
Sources: juliefortier.org · will.illinois.edu
Taxes
1 = Fund programs5 = Cut taxes
Bost5/5
Supports cutting taxes and simplifying the tax code; voted for the 2025 tax law (H.R. 1).
Sources: clerk.house.gov · bostforcongress.com
Fortier2/5
Supports higher taxes on the wealthy and closing corporate loopholes rather than raising taxes on working families.
Crime & safety
1 = Reform-focused5 = Enforcement-focused
Fortiernot placed on the scale
In an August 2026 radio interview she supported the Second Amendment with some regulation and background checks, and said federal officials should be held accountable.
Sources: will.illinois.edu · irp.cdn-website.com
Education
1 = More public funding5 = More school choice
Bostnot placed on the scale
In 2015 he was one of eight House Republicans voting against reauthorizing the D.C. private-school voucher program (SOAR Act, H.R. 10).
Sources: clerk.house.gov · ontheissues.org
Fortier1/5
Supports investing in public schools and making higher education more affordable.
Sources: juliefortier.org · will.illinois.edu
Climate
1 = Faster clean-energy shift5 = Prioritize energy costs
Bost5/5
Supports expanding oil, gas and coal production and opposes restrictions on fossil fuels.
Sources: bost.house.gov · bostforcongress.com
Fortier2/5
Says climate change requires action, with an all-of-the-above energy approach that includes coal workers; opposes data centers in Southern Illinois.
Sources: juliefortier.org · news.wttw.com
Foreign policy
1 = More engaged abroad5 = Focus at home
Bost3/5
Voted against 2024 Ukraine aid; supported 2025 strikes on Iran's nuclear program and voted against the 2026 Iran war powers resolution.
Fortiernot placed on the scale
Campaign materials say a strong America keeps its military ready and uses force only when necessary; she criticized Bost's vote for the $1.15T FY2027 NDAA.
Sources: irp.cdn-website.com · irp.cdn-website.com
Trade & competitiveness
1 = Open trade5 = Tariffs to protect industry
Bost4/5
Supports the administration's tariff negotiations, saying they will benefit farmers.
Fortier2/5
Opposes broad tariffs, citing higher farm input costs; supports targeted fair-trade measures.
Quick answers
When is the election?
Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting is open now. Your county election office has locations and hours.
Am I in this district?
Enter your ZIP code at howivote.org to see your congressional district and every race on your ballot. Some ZIP codes are split between districts; the site will ask you to choose.
Does How I Vote endorse anyone?
No. It never recommends a candidate and never guesses a position from party. Where no public position exists, it says so.
Where do these summaries come from?
Candidates’ own websites, votes, questionnaires, debates and news coverage, all linked. Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name.
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