AP Race Call: Republican Gus Bilirakis wins reelection to U.S. House in Florida's 12th Congressional District

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Republican Rep. Gus Bilirakis won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Florida on Tuesday. The 12th District falls along the Gulf Coast, just north of Tampa Bay and covers part of the region struck by

[ consecutive hurricanes ]

last month. Bilirakis has served in the House since 2007. Prior to that, he was a member of the Florida House of Representatives and worked in private practice as a lawyer. He defeated Democrat Rock Aboujaoude. The Associated Press declared Bilirakis the winner at 7:05 p.m. EST.