Mike Bost
R · U.S. House, IL-12 · Tier 1/2
Tier 1/2, between “Firmly pro-Israel” and “Mainstream pro-Israel”
Southern Illinois Republican with a zero-daylight voting record: the 2023–24 aid bills (he cosponsored the November 2023 one), H.Res.894, the May 2024 bill forcing delivery of the arms Biden paused (an original cosponsor), both ICC-sanctions bills and the September 2026 anti-boycott bill, and No on the 2025 Greene and 2026 Massie cuts. In May 2024 he was one of 104 House members pressing Biden over delayed weapons deliveries and attacked the Gaza aid pier: “Now, President Biden's slow-rolling weapons to Israel while using American taxpayer dollars to build a pier in Gaza. These decisions hurt Israel and help Hamas.” After Netanyahu’s July 2024 address to Congress he said, “I will never apologize for supporting Israel's right to exist or forcefully defend itself against those who wish to see Israel wiped off the map.” In January 2024 he signed the Smith–Manning letter, whose signers “thoroughly reject” South Africa’s “charge of genocide” against Israel.
A 1/2, not a clean 1. Bost has voted for every tracked Israel measure he was present for and shows no leadership on the issue — no authored Israel legislation and no caucus or fundraising role; signing a 104-member letter is not leadership. His only words about aid to Gaza treat the 2024 humanitarian pier as something that helps Hamas, which rules out a flat 2. Counter-case: a clean 1 if hostility to Gaza aid is read as the hardline rhetoric that marks the pro-Israel end, but it is a single line rather than a brand.
Open the full card, with votes, money and every source, on elect26 →
elect26 places 2026 midterm candidates on a six-tier spectrum, from 1 (most pro-Israel) to 6 (most critical of Israel).