Bill Posey, Corry Westbrook expect November battle in CD 8

Democrat Corry Westbrook appears set to take on Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Posey this fall in the Space Coast-based Florida’s Congressional District 8.

Westbrook, of Vero Beach, is the only Democrat who has qualified since the qualifying period ended at noon Friday. And Posey, of Rockledge, appears to face no Republican challengers. So unless unexpected late filers get qualified — officials said it might go late into this evening — there will be no primaries in the CD 8 contest.

Independent candidate Bill Stinson of Melbourne also qualified.

This is Westbrook’s second attempt to take on Posey. In 2014 she just missed qualifying when a discrepancy emerged in her paperwork, relating to her legal residence. Posey went on to crush another Democratic challenger, Gabriel Rothblatt, for his fourth term.

Democrat Christopher Duncan of Palm Bay filed to run as a Democrat but his campaign has been dormant for some time.

CD 8 includes all of Brevard and Indian River counties and far-eastern Orange County.