Gus Bilirakis
Gus Bilirakis, an attorney and former state House member, has served in the U.S. House since 2007, succeeding his father Michael Bilirakis. He sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee, where he leads the consumer-protection subcommittee and serves on the health and communications subcommittees. He had no Republican primary opponent in 2026 and advanced directly to the November general election in the redrawn 12th District, seeking an 11th term.
How they got on the ballot: No Republican primary; advanced automatically to Nov 3 general election (WUSF: https://www.wusf.org/politics-issues/2026-08-12/democrats-face-uphill-battle-quest-to-wrest-the-seat-held-by-congressman-gus-bilirakis)
Campaign finance (FEC filings through 10/14/2026): raised $2,255,342, spent $2,122,513, cash on hand $254,246; $889,029 from individual donors, $1,185,450 from PACs. FEC filings ↗
Sources last checked 2026-06-04. Report an error ↗
Positions on the major issues
Compare with opponents →Each entry describes what the candidate has said or done, and what they say they will do, in neutral terms with sources. The chip shows how that relates to the statement voters rate in the matching tool.
Taxes & spending Leans agree· based on record
Bilirakis voted for H.R. 1 (the 2025 reconciliation law), which extended the 2017 individual tax cuts and added new deductions while reducing projected federal spending on Medicaid and SNAP. No separate statement on the tradeoff was found. He has also backed eliminating or reducing taxes on overtime, tips and Social Security benefits.
Immigration Strongly agrees· based on record
Voted for the Laken Riley Act (S. 5, Jan. 22, 2025), which requires federal detention of unauthorized immigrants charged with theft or violent crimes and lets states sue over immigration enforcement.
Abortion Strongly disagrees· based on record
Bilirakis describes himself as pro-life, applauded the Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade, and voted against the Women's Health Protection Act, the Right to Contraception Act and the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act.
Health care Leans disagree· based on record
Bilirakis voted for H.R. 1, which reduced projected federal Medicaid spending (including new work requirements) and did not extend the enhanced ACA premium subsidies. No statement supporting Medicaid expansion in Florida was found.
Social Security & Medicare Mixed / neutral· stated position
Bilirakis says he wants to 'preserve' Medicare and Social Security and in June 2026 reintroduced the Commission on Sustaining Medicare and Social Security Act, which would create a bipartisan commission to recommend solutions to the programs' projected insolvency; the bill does not itself rule cuts in or out. He also co-sponsored codifying the $6,000 Social Security tax deduction.
Elections & voting Strongly disagrees· based on record
Voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22, April 10, 2025), which would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Crime & policing Leans agree· based on record
Voted for the Protecting Our Nation's Capital Emergency Act (H.R. 2096), the 2025 bill repealing parts of the District of Columbia police-accountability law; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward tougher policing.
Gender identity laws Leans agree· based on record
Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (H.R. 28), the 2025 bill barring transgender girls and women from female school sports under Title IX; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward keeping restrictions in place.
Energy & utilities Leans disagree· stated position
Bilirakis joined more than 80 House Republicans in a letter demanding an end to what they called the Biden administration's 'assault on American energy' and maintains an issue page emphasizing domestic energy production. No statement supporting renewable mandates or utility-rate oversight was found.
Ukraine Mixed / neutral· based on record
Mixed record: Bilirakis issued a release lauding passage of Russia sanctions and aid to Ukraine earlier in the war, but is reported to have voted no on H.R. 2913, the Ukraine Support Act (June 4, 2026), which authorized up to $8 billion in loans for military assistance and new Russia sanctions.
Veterans Leans agree· stated position
Introduced the Restore Veterans' Compensation Act of 2026 and lists veterans' issues among his priorities.
No public position found on 6 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Housing affordability, Guns, Education & school choice, Environment & water, Tariffs & trade, Trump administration. This is reported as unknown rather than guessed from party affiliation; these issues are excluded from this candidate's match score.
Other issues this candidate has raised
- Commission on Sustaining Medicare and Social Security Act — Reintroduced June 2026; would create a bipartisan commission to recommend ways to keep both programs solvent.
- Codify the $6,000 Social Security tax deduction — With Rep. Luna, introduced a bill in February 2026 to make permanent the senior deduction enacted in 2025.
- Promoting Fairness for Medicare Providers Act — Reintroduced legislation aimed at protecting seniors' access to Medicare providers.
- Restore Veterans' Compensation Act of 2026 — Introduced in 2026 to address veterans' compensation.
- Domestic energy production — Signed a House Republican letter calling for reversal of policies restricting U.S. energy production.
- Former Pinellas nuclear plant workers — Bilirakis said former Largo nuclear-weapons plant workers deserve timely, fair review of their federal medical claims and that he is looking into whether there are unnecessary barriers.
- Did not attend Oct. 16 Tiger Bay forum — Bilirakis did not appear at the Tampa Tiger Bay Club congressional forum his opponent attended.
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- Voted for H.R. 1, the 2025 reconciliation law (July 3, 2025).
- Voted for the Laken Riley Act (Jan. 2025) and related immigration enforcement bills.
- Reported to have voted no on H.R. 2913, the Ukraine Support Act (June 4, 2026; passed 226-195).
- Serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee (consumer protection, health, and communications subcommittees).
- Voted for the Laken Riley Act (S. 5), Jan. 22, 2025.
- Voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22), April 10, 2025.
- Voted for final passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), July 3, 2025.
- Voted for the Laken Riley Act (S. 5), the 2025 law requiring federal detention of unauthorized immigrants charged with theft or violent crimes and letting states sue over immigration enforcement.
- Voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22), the 2025 bill requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote.
- Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), the July 2025 budget law that made the 2017 tax cuts permanent and added new deductions while cutting Medicaid and food-assistance spending.
- Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), the July 2025 budget law that added Medicaid work requirements and eligibility checks projected to reduce coverage.
- Voted for the Protecting American Energy Production Act (H.R. 26), the 2025 bill barring a presidential moratorium on hydraulic fracturing without an act of Congress; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward fossil-fuel production.
- Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (H.R. 28), the 2025 bill barring transgender girls and women from female school sports under Title IX; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward keeping restrictions in place.
- Voted for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 21), the 2025 bill setting criminal penalties for providers who fail to care for an infant born alive after an attempted abortion; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward more abortion restrictions.
- Voted for the Protecting Our Nation's Capital Emergency Act (H.R. 2096), the 2025 bill repealing parts of the District of Columbia police-accountability law; a vote for it is coded as leaning toward tougher policing.
- Voted for the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), the 2024 law repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, raising benefits for some public-sector retirees.
- Voted Nay on H.Con.Res. 93, a War Powers Resolution directing the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran (Roll Call 307, Sept. 15, 2026; agreed to 220-204).
- Voted Yea on the motion to table H.Res. 1486, a resolution impeaching President Trump (Roll Call 298, Sept. 15, 2026; tabled 232-147 with 47 voting present). A Yea vote set the resolution aside; a Nay vote would have kept it before the House.
- Voted Yea on H.J.Res. 210 and Yea on H.J.Res. 213, Congressional Review Act resolutions disapproving EPA authorizations of California's at-berth ocean-going vessel and commercial harbor craft diesel-emission rules (Roll Calls 306 and 311, Sept. 15-16, 2026; passed 216-211 and 214-208).
- Introduced the bipartisan Puerto Rico Medicare Advantage Fairness Act (announced Oct. 13) with Reps. Raul Ruiz and Darren Soto and Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández.
- Co-signed the Moody-Buchanan letter asking the Department of War to increase Florida's National Guard allocation after Hurricane Isaias.
- Voted for H.R. 1 (2025), the budget reconciliation law that extended the 2017 tax cuts, added Medicaid work requirements, reduced clean-energy tax credits and funded expanded immigration enforcement.
Endorsements (as reported)
- Tampa Bay Times (Gallaty and Brink both chose Bilirakis)
- Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)