The candidate: State Rep. Mike Bost, a Republican
The member: Bost is challenging freshman Rep. Bill Enyart, a Democrat.
The district: Illinois’ 12th District is located in the southwest corner of the state and is one of the most competitive congressional districts in Illinois. President Barack Obama won the district by a slim 2-point margin in 2012.
The candidate’s team: Julie Wadler (fundraising), Ben Burger, SRCPmedia (media), Tarrance Group (polling).

Illinois state Rep. Mike Bost, who garnered YouTube fame when his heated “Let my people go” floor speech on the state House floor went viral, said he could show that same passion in Congress, should he be elected next fall.

Bost is challenging freshman Rep. Bill Enyart, D-Ill., in the competitive 12th District next year. Last cycle, Enyart defeated his Republican opponent by a 9-point margin.

But many Republicans lamented that their nominee for this race last cycle was lackluster. They believe Bost — who has represented a large chunk of the district over his 20 years in the state legislature — will have a better shot in 2014.

But nationally, Bost is best known for his 2012 rant against Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan for giving state representatives just 20 minutes to read a bill before voting on it.

In a Tuesday interview with CQ Roll Call, Bost said that should a bill that violates his constituents’ rights or violates constitutional rights head to the House floor, he could show that same passion again.

“Is there going to be something that would make it to the point that my constituents’ rights as citizens would be violated or that … the constitution of the United States would be attacked by a certain bill? If that’s the case then yeah, that passion may come out again,” Bost said.

Illinois’ 12th District is rated a Lean Democrat contest by Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.

This series questions the scores of congressional hopefuls who visit the CQ Roll Call offices each cycle. Responses and questions in the video have been edited and condensed. Have a question for a candidate? Follow us at @RollCallPols to learn about upcoming interviews.

Previous candidate interviews:

• Kentucky Senate: Republican Matt Bevin
• Idaho’s 2nd: Republican Bryan Smith
• Michigan’s 14th: Democrat Rudy Hobbs 
• California’s 45th: Republican Mimi Walters 
• Iowa Senate: Republican Matt Whitaker 
• Nebraska Senate: Republican Shane Osborn 
• Minnesota’s 6th: Republican Tom Emmer
• Minnesota’s 6th: Democrat Jim Graves
• Florida’s 2nd: Democrat Gwen Graham 
• Pennsylvania’s 13th: Democrat Daylin Leach