MURPHYSBORO, Illinois — Former President Donald Trump endorsed U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (R-Illinois) for a sixth term in Congress on Tuesday.
"Congressman Mike Bost is doing a fantastic job representing the Great People of Illinois' 12th Congressional District," Trump said in a social media post. "He is working hard to Secure the Border, Champion American Agriculture, Strengthen the Military, Grow the Economy, and Protect and Defend our under siege Second Amendment. Mike Bost has my Complete and Total Endorsement."
Bost faces a primary challenge in four weeks from former Republican state legislator Darren Bailey on Tuesday, March 19.
Trump previously had endorsed Bost for Congress and Bailey in his bid in the 2022 Republican primary race for governor.
Both Bailey and Bost had lobbied Trump and his allies for months for his support. As of last week, neither camp expected him to take sides in the race.
Trump's endorsement comes one day after the former president met with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) to discuss the GOP strategy to win House seats.
Speaker Johnson, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, former Speaker-designee Jim Jordan, and House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik have all endorsed Bost over Bailey. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has also vigorously defended Bost against Bailey's challenge.
Bost repeatedly defended Trump in recent weeks, brushed off his criminal indictments as political attacks, and boasted about being the first candidate in the race to endorse Trump's 2024 election bid during a recent campaign event with two Texas Republican Congressmen, Reps. Ronny Jackson and Morgan Luttrell.
His early endorsement of Trump appeared to have caught to former president's attention.
"Mike Bost was one of the first House Committee Chairmen to endorse my Campaign," Trump noted in his social media post.
Bailey attempted to garner support from Trump's base with a rally featuring Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, the controversial House member who led the charge to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Bost later invited Ohio Congressman Max Miller, one of Trump's former White House aides, to campaign with him in the district.
U.S. Rep. Mary Miller has endorsed Bailey, while former U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis and John Shimkus prefer Bost.
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