Bost First on TV in 12th District Primary
Congressman Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) hit the airwaves Tuesday in his race with former state senator Darren Bailey.
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With eleven weeks remaining to the March primary, the hotly contested 12th Congressional District primary has hit the airwaves.
Congressman Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) launched a TV ad campaign Tuesday in his race with former state senator and 2022 GOP gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey. It’s the first shot in an air war expected to last until primary day.
The ad, which is airing on broadcast, satellite, and streaming services (though not traditional cable, we’re told), hits on traditional Republican talking points like gun rights and free trade. The only mention of former President Donald Trump comes when promising to “finish” Trump’s incomplete border wall.
The Bost campaign said the initial buy is for two weeks and in the “six figures”, and we’re told by campaign sources they’re planning to stay on television “for the duration.”
Both Bost and Bailey have angled for Trump’s endorsement in the district. Trump won the southern Illinois district by more than 42 percentage points in both 2016 and 2020, according to Illinois Election Data.
Meanwhile, Bailey is using social media in an attempt to become a martyr against the assault weapon registry mandated in state law by January 1st. Bailey is openly prodding authorities to cite him (he likely wouldn’t be arrested as the first violation is a misdemeanor).
We won’t know the financial picture in the race until the end of January when Federal Election Commission campaign finance reports are due, but at the end of September, Bost had around $1.2 million on hand compared to Bailey’s around $108,000.
Also, interestingly, the Illinois Republican Party is disclosed as one of the funding entities of the commercial. The state party has a policy not to endorse in primaries. It was too late last night to follow up with the IL GOP on the disclosure, but I’ll get you a statement for morning.
The Bailey camp did not respond to a request.
Here’s the Bost ad: