The Moment Is Now: 8 Days to Change Florida’s 12th District

Eight days. One choice. One opportunity to give Florida’s 12th Congressional District a new, independent voice in Congress.

Eight days. That’s all we have left.

Eight days from now, voters will decide who represents Florida’s 12th Congressional District in Congress.

We are no longer talking about what might happen months from now.

We don’t have months.

We don’t have weeks.

We have eight days.

Eight days to organize.

Eight days to reach our neighbors.

Eight days to vote.

Eight days to determine whether we continue with the status quo or choose a new direction.

The moment is now.

I’m Kimberly Overman.

I’m a mom and a grandmother raising my 12-year-old grandson. I’m a small-business owner, a retired financial planner and registered investment advisor, a former Hillsborough County Commissioner, and the Democratic nominee for Congress in Florida’s 12th District.

I have spent my career helping families plan for their futures, building a business, serving my community and working to make the government solve problems. As a Hillsborough County Commissioner, that included leading during the COVID-19 crisis and advocating for small businesses, childcare providers, affordable housing, public health and infrastructure.

But those titles aren’t really why I’m running.

I Know What Working Families Are Facing

I grew up as the oldest of five children in a working-class family that struggled with housing insecurity.

I watched my parents work multiple jobs just to keep a roof over our heads.

I learned early that financial security isn’t an abstract economic statistic.

It’s whether the mortgage gets paid.

It’s whether you can fill the prescription and still buy groceries.

It’s whether the car makes it to work for another week.

It’s whether a small-business owner can make payroll.

It’s whether your children and grandchildren will have opportunities you never had.

And I know personally that life doesn’t always follow the plans we make.

I cared for my disabled son, whom we lost in 2023. Today, I’m raising my 12-year-old grandson.

Those experiences change you.

They remind you that behind every government policy, every budget and every vote in Congress is a human being whose life may be profoundly affected by that decision.

That’s why I believe the government should work for ordinary people, not simply the wealthy, connected and powerful.

It’s why I believe every family deserves a fair shot.

And it’s why I’m running for Congress.

This District Is Our Community

Florida’s new 12th Congressional District brings together communities in Hillsborough and Pasco Counties.

It includes military families and veterans, retirees and young families, healthcare workers, educators, tradespeople, entrepreneurs and small-business owners.

Our campaign’s research shows that approximately 28% of our residents are Hispanic, approximately 18.4% of registered voters are Hispanic, and approximately 13% of our residents are Black.

Those aren’t just statistics.

They’re our neighbors.

They’re business owners.

They’re veterans.

They’re teachers.

They’re nurses.

They’re construction workers.

They’re entrepreneurs.

They’re faith leaders.

They’re families contributing every day to the strength of our community.

And right now, many people in this district are living with tremendous uncertainty.

The fear surrounding ICE enforcement and immigration actions is real for a significant part of our community.

Children worry about their parents.

Employers worry about their workers.

Families worry about what tomorrow might bring.

And pretending that fear doesn’t exist won’t make our communities stronger or safer.

Let me also be clear about something else.

We need secure borders.

We need to stop human trafficking.

We need to stop drug trafficking and fentanyl.

We need an immigration system that is lawful, orderly and functional.

But America should never be forced to choose between security and humanity.

We can enforce our laws and respect due process.

We can secure our borders while respecting human dignity.

We can protect our communities without governing through fear.

And Congress can finally do its job and address an immigration system that Washington has failed to fix for decades.

Security and humanity are not mutually exclusive.

That is the balanced, common-sense leadership I will bring to Congress.

National Security Is Personal in Tampa Bay

National security isn’t an abstract political talking point in Tampa Bay.

It’s personal.

With MacDill Air Force Base in our community, along with military families and tens of thousands of veterans, we understand what service to the country actually means.

That’s one reason I’m particularly honored that National Security Leaders for America, representing retired military leaders, diplomats and national security professionals, endorsed this campaign.

They understand something Washington too often forgets:

Strength isn’t rhetoric.

Strength is competence.

Strength is preparation.

Strength is judgment.

Strength is leadership.

And America desperately needs those qualities in Washington.

After Nearly 20 Years, We Deserve to Ask Some Questions

My opponent, Gus Bilirakis, has served in Congress since 2007. After nearly twenty years in Washington, voters have every right to ask:

Is healthcare more affordable?

Is housing more affordable?

Are insurance costs under control?

Is Washington working better?

Do Americans have greater confidence in their government?

And perhaps most importantly:

Has our representative demonstrated the independence necessary to put the people he represents ahead of partisan politics?

La Gaceta recently endorsed me for Congress and summed up its criticism of Gus Bilirakis bluntly:

“He won’t buck Trump.”

That gets to the heart of the choice before us.

Gus Bilirakis has chosen his path.

I’ve chosen mine.

My loyalty will be to you.

Not to any president.

Not to any party leader.

Not to corporate lobbyists.

Not to special interests.

My loyalty will be to the families, seniors, veterans, workers and small businesses of Florida’s 12th Congressional District.

If Democrats are wrong, I’ll say so.

If Republicans have a good idea that will help this district, I’ll work with them.

Because Washington doesn’t need another partisan warrior.

Florida’s 12th District needs a representative.

Look at the Coalition We’re Building

I’m tremendously proud of the support this campaign has earned.

Not because endorsements win elections.

People win elections.

But endorsements tell you something about the people and organizations who trust a candidate’s judgment and believe that person is ready to lead.

Brady PAC has endorsed our campaign and identified Florida’s 12th District as one of three congressional races nationally that it says will help decide a gun violence prevention majority.

Our campaign has joined more than 270 candidates committing to Unrig Washington reform principles, reflecting a commitment to reform and accountability in Washington.

We have earned support from the AFL-CIO, the Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida, the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida, women’s organizations, civil-rights advocates, environmental organizations, democracy advocates and many others.

When I look at those endorsements, I don’t see logos.

I see people.

I see veterans.

I see nurses.

I see teachers.

I see first responders.

I see union workers.

I see small-business owners.

I see parents.

I see retirees.

I see entrepreneurs.

I see people who may disagree on some issues, but agree on one fundamental principle:

Government should work for ordinary people again.

That’s the coalition we’re building.

And that’s the coalition that can win.

Eight Days

Here’s the reality.

We have the message.

We have the coalition.

We have momentum.

But momentum doesn’t vote.

People do.

And we have eight days to make sure they do.

Eight days to knock on doors.

Eight days to make phone calls.

Eight days to share this video.

Eight days to talk with neighbors, friends, coworkers and family members.

Eight days to reach voters who need to hear why this election matters.

Eight days to organize.

Eight days to vote.

Eight days to change the direction of Florida’s 12th Congressional District.

And that brings me to something I need to ask you directly.

We Need Your Help Now

A contribution to this campaign today isn’t about something we’re going to do six months from now.

It’s about what we can do during the next eight days.

It’s about reaching voters while they’re deciding.

It’s about putting our message in front of people who need to hear it.

It’s about supporting the organizing, communications, digital outreach and voter-contact operation we need to fight all the way through Election Day.

At this point in a campaign, there is no time for waiting and wondering whether somebody else will step forward.

We have to be the people who step forward.

If you’ve been thinking about making your first contribution, please make it today.

DONATE TO KIMBERLY

If you’ve already contributed and have the ability to give again, this is the moment when that additional investment can help us finish what we started.

If you can make a significant contribution, I’m asking you personally to do it now.

And if you cannot contribute financially, there is something just as important you can give us:

Your time.

VOLUNTEER FOR THE FINAL 8 DAYS

Knock doors.

Make calls.

Talk with your neighbors.

Share our video.

Share this article.

And if you know five people who are worried about the direction of our country, send this article to all five of them today.

Because eight days from now, I don’t want any of us wondering:

Could we have knocked one more door?

Could we have reached one more voter?

Could we have made one more call?

Could we have raised enough for one more round of voter outreach?

I want us to know that we left everything on the field.

The Moment Is Now

Eight days from now, we’ll wake up to one of two realities.

Gus Bilirakis will be preparing for another term in Washington.

Or the people of Florida’s 12th Congressional District will have chosen a new direction.

Leadership instead of politics.

Solutions instead of slogans.

Independence instead of obedience.

A representative who answers to you.

I know how to lead.

I know how to govern.

I know how to bring people together.

And when I take on a challenge for the people I serve, I do not quit until the job is done.

But I cannot do this alone.

I need you.

I need your vote.

I need your voice.

I need your volunteer hours.

And, if you have the ability, I need your financial support right now.

DONATE TO KIMBERLY

VOLUNTEER

We have eight days.

Let’s make every one of them count.

Let’s knock the doors.

Let’s make the calls.

Let’s raise the resources.

Let’s turn out the vote.

Let’s leave everything on the field.

And let’s win.

Vote Kimberly Overman for Congress.

And Gus Bilirakis?

Kimberly Overman
Democratic Nominee for Congress
Florida’s 12th Congressional District