Trump backs U.S. Rep. Mike Bost over Darren Bailey for Congress

Former President Donald Trump endorsed the reelection of U.S. Rep. Mike Bost on Tuesday, dealing a major blow to Darren Bailey’s insurgent challenge in one of the nation’s most closely watched Republican primary races.

Bost, a five-term congressman from Murphysboro, and Bailey, a former state legislator from Xenia who is the 2022 Republican candidate for governor, had sought the former president’s endorsement for the March 19 GOP primary in the state’s 12th Congressional race. The district is an overwhelmingly Republican rural district that makes up roughly one-third of the state.

Trump has previously supported both men. He supported Bailey’s unsuccessful bid for governor against Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Bost’s re-election in 2022.

His support was thought to be more critical for Bailey, who is challenging a veteran incumbent, as both men seek to win the endorsement of the first former president in U.S. history to face criminal charges and the presumptive GOP 2024 presidential nominee. Bailey also made repeated visits to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida and campaigned on his loyalty to Trump.

But Bailey’s efforts were not enough. With less than a month until the primary election, the former president A post on Truth Social said:“Mike Bost Has My Complete and Total Approval!”

“Congressman Mike Bost is doing a great job representing the Great People of Illinois’ 12th Congressional District. While I like and respect Darren Bailey and am proud to campaign on his behalf in 2022, Mike Bost was one of the first House Committee Chairmen to support my Campaign, and Mike was a strong supporter of our America First agenda during my record-setting Administration. “Trump shared.

“As Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Mike does an incredible job providing our Brave and Patriotic Veterans with the care they deserve. “The former president is working hard to Secure the Border and Champion America,” he wrote.

Both Bost and Bailey are running in the primary as delegates to nominate Trump for president at the Republican National Convention in July; It’s another indicator of how strong the former president remains as a political force in a district he won with 71% of the vote in 2020 against President Joe Biden.

As of the start of the year, Bost had a huge cash advantage over Bailey, approximately $1.4 million to $117,383, and the congressman consistently ran district-wide ads in low-cost media markets.

Bailey has the support of many members of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, including U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, who campaigned in the district on Friday. During the GOP’s closed-door meeting, Bost attacked Gaetz and Gaetz led the impeachment of Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Bailey also had the support of his colleague from neighboring Illinois, U.S. Rep. Mary Miller of Hindsboro, another Freedom Caucus member.

Endorsements for Bost included those of McCarthy’s successor, Louisiana House Speaker Mike Johnson, as well as the National Rifle Association, Illinois Farm Bureau and other congressional supporters of Trump. Last week, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, chair of the House Republican Conference, endorsed the incumbent.

As an incumbent, Bost also has the backing of the National Republican Congressional Committee, and Trump’s endorsement comes the day after the chairman, U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, met with the former president.

Inside Airing on “X” “I am honored and proud to announce that President Donald J. Trump has endorsed my 2024 re-election campaign!” Bost said. said.

Bailey’s campaign also noted that Trump praised his opponent for supporting Bost.

“Darren Bailey proudly stands with President Trump even though he disagrees with him on this endorsement,” Bailey’s campaign said in a statement. We look forward to working with President Trump to support working families, secure our borders, defend our freedoms, and put America first; “No compromise, no apology.”