State Representative Mike Bost had an easy win Tuesday for his 10th term in the House.

Bost (R-Murphysboro) ran unopposed for the 115th district seat he has occupied since 1995. While other area candidates eyed the polls closely Tuesday, Bost said he was helping others with election-related initiatives.

“It’s been really nice,” he said.

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Bost said this is the first time he has run without an opponent in his 17 years as a part of the Illinois House of Representatives. He said almost half of those elections included a couple of opposing green party candidates.

Although he didn’t have to track the votes for his own district Tuesday night, Bost said he still planned to go out after dark and help clear other candidates’ campaign signs.

Southern Illinois’ 12th Congressional District was one local election that included more than one candidate. Bost said he considered running for the position, but after watching how close it was, he was grateful to avoid the chaos of Election Day.

For his next two years in the House, Bost said he plans to continue his budget reform efforts and challenge proposed cuts by Democratic Speaker of the House Mike Madigan and Gov. Pat Quinn. As the House Republican Caucus floor leader, Bost said he plans to work closely with other Republican leaders and push for new legislation, including a bill he is advocating that defines how a bill flows through the House.

A video of Bost received national attention last summer, showing the representative upset because of the House’s limited time to vote on state pension legislation.