Gyrocopter pilot to challenge Wasserman Schultz

by Ben Kamisar - 12/23/15 7:10 PM ET

A Florida man arrested earlier this year for landing a gyrocopter on the Capitol lawn in a call for campaign finance reform will challenge Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) in the 2016 primary.

Lawyers awaiting the felony sentencing of Douglas Hughes informed the D.C. Circuit Court of his plans to challenge Wasserman Schultz, who also serves as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, in a filing Wednesday.

The Associated Press first reported on the filing and Hughes’s plans.

{mosads}”Mr. Hughes plans a ‘strong ground game for his campaign, and will not engage in

aerial civil disobedience,'” the document says while arguing to lift certain travel restrictions stipulated by the court in light of the longshot bid.

Ahead of his sentencing in April, Hughes agreed not to leave Hillsborough County, where he lives. Wasserman Schultz’s seat lies in another part of the state, so his lawyers are hoping that the courts will still allow him to travel.

“Running for political office will allow Mr. Hughes an opportunity to work, in a lawful manner, toward the type of political reform he desires,” his lawyers argued in a previous document last week that laid out his bid but did not state where he’d file to run.

“If his campaign is successful, holding office will also transform Mr. Hughes from an unemployed person to a person with meaningful employment.”

Wasserman Schultz has been in Congress since 2005, and despite only having $492,089 in her campaign bank account as of October, she’s a heavy favorite to win reelection in part because of her profile as one of the national party’s top figures.

While Hughes’s protest didn’t spark any reform, it did prompt House committee hearings on how to better protect Capitol airspace.

—This post was updated on Dec. 24.