Democrats face 'uphill climb' in quest to wrest seat held by congressman Gus Bilirakis
The first fallout from the shakeup of Florida's congressional districts will be felt during Tuesday's primaries. One of the more contested races is held by longtime U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, whose Pasco County-based district has been extended into Hillsborough County.
Bilirakis and his father, Michael, have represented Pasco in Congress for 40 years – Michael for 20 and Gus for 20. The name recognition is such that he has no primary opposition and will automatically go into the District 12 general election in November.
Democrats vying to oppose Bilirakis are Darren McAuley, who serves in the Florida Air National Guard, and Kimberly Overman, a former Hillsborough County commissioner.
The winner faces Bilirakis and no-party candidate Branden Schivener, a 27-year-old Medicare case manager, in November.
Frank Orlando, a political science professor at Saint Leo University in Pasco County, said it'll be a long road for the winning Democrat to take on the longtime congressman.
"It's still goin…