U.S. House, Florida 12th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Florida's 12th Congressional District?
Gus Bilirakis has the strongest record in Florida's 12th Congressional District. Gus Bilirakis scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Kimberly Overman at 63, as of October 9, 2026. Gus Bilirakis's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Kimberly Overman's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Branden Scrivener (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Gus Bilirakis
On the ballot as Gus Michael Bilirakis
68 / 100
Public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 45
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 88
Democratic
Kimberly Overman
63 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- NR
No Party Affiliation
Branden Scrivener
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 45
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Gus Bilirakis
- On the record2026
Voted Aye on Rep. Anna Paulina Luna's farm bill amendment (2026 Roll Call 148) when Majority Leader Scalise and Whip Emmer voted No; it was agreed to.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 148, 2026
- On the record2026-09-24
His spokesperson told the Tampa Bay Times he does not plan to debate his Democratic opponent in the 2026 general election.
- On the record2021-01-06
Was recorded Not Voting on both January 2021 objections to the Arizona and Pennsylvania electoral votes.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021
- On the record2020-12-10
Signed the House amicus brief supporting Texas v. Pennsylvania, the suit to overturn other states' 2020 results; he declined to answer questions about it and issued a statement on restoring confidence.
Sources: Texas v. Pennsylvania, amicus brief of 126 representatives, Tampa Bay Times, Dec. 11, 2020
- On the record2017-06-21
PolitiFact rated False his June 2017 statement that a study showed the Paris climate agreement could cost 2.7 million U.S. jobs by 2025.
Source: PolitiFact, June 21, 2017
- Credit2024
Rated 'exceeds expectations' by the Center for Effective Lawmaking in the 117th and 118th Congresses; GovTrack lists 22 enacted bills he sponsored.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation
- Credit2023
Ranked 25 of 436 House members on the Lugar Center Bipartisan Index for 2023, in the top quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Kimberly Overman
- On the record2026-09
Challenged Rep. Gus Bilirakis to two televised general election debates, one in Hillsborough County and one in Pasco County.
Source: The Laker/Lutz News, 2026
- Credit2018
Elected at-large Hillsborough County commissioner (District 7) and served from 2018 to Nov. 22, 2022.
Branden Scrivener
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Gus Bilirakis. Annual financial disclosures are on file with the House Clerk; his 2025 report was filed May 12, 2026 (paper filing). No House Ethics Committee matter or FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Committee on Ethics site search for Bilirakis, FEC administrative fines search
Kimberly Overman. Filed a House candidate financial disclosure on May 29, 2026, and campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 29, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or ethics finding found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10079855, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Branden Scrivener. Filed a House candidate financial disclosure in April 2026, and campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10075717, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Gus Bilirakis. Voted Aye on a Rep. Luna farm bill amendment on 2026 Roll Call 148 that Majority Leader Scalise and Whip Emmer opposed; it was agreed to.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 148, 2026
Kimberly Overman. No public record found.
Branden Scrivener. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Gus Bilirakis. His spokesperson told the Tampa Bay Times in September 2026 that he does not plan to debate his opponent this cycle; no 2026 general election forum appearance found.
Kimberly Overman. No public record found.
Branden Scrivener. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Gus Bilirakis. Served in the Florida House from 1999 to 2007 and in Congress since 2007. No censure, reprimand or House Ethics Committee matter found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Gus Bilirakis, House Committee on Ethics site search for Bilirakis
Kimberly Overman. Served a four-year term as an at-large Hillsborough County commissioner, 2018 to 2022. No censure or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Kimberly Overman
Branden Scrivener. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Gus Bilirakis. Signed the December 2020 House amicus brief backing Texas v. Pennsylvania, then was recorded Not Voting on both January 2021 objections, so no recorded vote to reject electors. No misuse-of-office finding.
Sources: Texas v. Pennsylvania, amicus brief of 126 representatives, House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021
Kimberly Overman. Held sworn office as a Hillsborough County commissioner from 2018 to November 2022. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Kimberly Overman
Branden Scrivener. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Gus Bilirakis. In Congress since 2007, seeking an eleventh term, after eight years in the Florida House.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Gus Bilirakis, GovTrack, Gus Bilirakis
Kimberly Overman. Elected Hillsborough County commissioner, 2018 to 2022, and a financial planner for more than 30 years.
Source: Ballotpedia, Kimberly Overman
Branden Scrivener. Health care worker for more than three years with a 2025 bachelor's degree in human services and four internships; no documented leadership role.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Branden Scrivener, Campaign site, home page
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Gus Bilirakis. Chairs the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, and was the primary sponsor of 22 enacted bills.
Source: GovTrack, committee membership
Kimberly Overman. Publishes issue pages and Ballotpedia survey answers on housing, health care and cost of living, mostly in general terms.
Sources: Campaign site, home page, Ballotpedia, Kimberly Overman
Branden Scrivener. Campaign site states positions on expanding the House, campaign finance, open primaries, public schools, data privacy and transit, in general terms.
Source: Campaign site, home page
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Gus Bilirakis. Offers an e-newsletter and publishes issue pages. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Kimberly Overman. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, publishes issue pages and press releases, and writes on Substack.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Kimberly Overman, Campaign site, home page
Branden Scrivener. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and publishes plain-language positions on his campaign site.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Branden Scrivener, Campaign site, home page
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Gus Bilirakis. Has represented the Tampa Bay and Nature Coast area in the Legislature and Congress since 1999; his state filing lists Tarpon Springs. FEC by-state totals show about 52 percent of itemized individual contributions from Florida.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Gus Bilirakis, Florida Division of Elections, candidate detail, FEC contribution totals by state
Kimberly Overman. Tampa Bay resident for more than 40 years who says she lives in the Hillsborough County part of the redrawn district. FEC by-state totals show about 71 percent of itemized individual contributions from Florida.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Kimberly Overman, Campaign press release, May 4, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Branden Scrivener. Campaign is based in Land O' Lakes in Pasco County, and he attended Sunlake High School there. All $950 of itemized individual contributions came from Florida.
Sources: Florida Division of Elections, candidate detail, Ballotpedia, Branden Scrivener, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Gus Bilirakis. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 29, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Kimberly Overman. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 29, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Branden Scrivener. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Gus Bilirakis. Legislative Effectiveness Score of 2.458 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 1.490, exceeds expectations (also exceeds in the 117th).
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation
Kimberly Overman. No public record found.
Branden Scrivener. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Gus Bilirakis. Missed 296 of 12,745 roll call votes, 2.3 percent, from January 2007 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Kimberly Overman. No public record found.
Branden Scrivener. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Gus Bilirakis. Runs district offices in Brooksville, New Port Richey and Inverness and publishes casework totals, 32,931 constituent cases.
Sources: Office site, Brooksville office, Office site, home page
Kimberly Overman. No public record found.
Branden Scrivener. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Gus Bilirakis. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of 1.09059 in the latest posted House scores (118th Congress, 2023), ranked 25 of 436, in the top quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Kimberly Overman. No public record found.
Branden Scrivener. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Gus Bilirakis. No public record found.
Kimberly Overman. No public record found.
Branden Scrivener. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Florida's 12th Congressional District?
Gus Bilirakis has the strongest record in Florida's 12th Congressional District. Gus Bilirakis scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Kimberly Overman at 63, as of October 9, 2026. Gus Bilirakis's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Kimberly Overman's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Branden Scrivener (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Florida's 12th Congressional District in 2026?
Gus Bilirakis (Republican, incumbent), Kimberly Overman (Democratic), Branden Scrivener (No Party Affiliation). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Gus Bilirakis a good candidate for Congress?
Gus Bilirakis scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria: character 45 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 88 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Kimberly Overman a good candidate for Congress?
Kimberly Overman scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Branden Scrivener a good candidate for Congress?
Branden Scrivener has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Florida race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Florida 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.