Congressman Gus Bilirakis Credit: Congressman Gus Bilirakis/Facebook

Republican incumbent Gus Bilikrakis has managed to hang on to his seat, defeating Democrat and former Hillsborough County commissioner Kimberly Overman in the race for U.S. House District 12.

According to polls, Bilikrakis secured 60.03% of votes from Pasco County and 45.05% of votes from Hillsborough County, as of 8:35 p.m.

Overman conceded to Bilikrakis at 8:28 p.m.

“Though this isn’t the result we hoped for, our message remains. It has been the honor of my lifetime to be the candidate that so many Floridians trusted to be that champion,” said Overman. “I will carry your stories and experiences with me every day as I continue to serve our community as an involved citizen. Thank you to every voter, volunteer, and supporter who believed in this campaign. I congratulate Congressman Bilirakis, and I wish him success in guiding Florida’s 12th District through the challenges facing our community and our country.”

While the old CD-12 leaned Republican in 2024, the race was essentially down to who could coalesce enough votes in a newly drawn district that gerrymandered its way from Pasco County to downtown Tampa, thanks to efforts from the Florida GOP.

Bilikrakis, who’s been a fixture in Tampa Bay politics for years and had voted for Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill, had to fend off Overman, a seasoned policy expert who campaigned on affordable housing and health care access, as well as overturning Citizens United, protecting reproductive rights and providing more support to military families.

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This article appears in Oct. 29 – Nov. 04, 2026.