EMILYs List endorses Kathy Castor in re-election bid for redrawn CD 14

EMILYs List is backing U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor as she seeks re-election to Florida’s 14th Congressional District.

Support from EMILYs List, which works to elect Democratic women who support abortion rights, gives the longtime Tampa Democrat a boost in her run for re-election.

“Florida Republicans are pushing a blatant political power grab at the expense of Florida voters, but Kathy Castor refuses to be intimidated,” EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler said. 

“In Congress Kathy has never shied away from a fight when Florida families’ voices and rights are at stake. Whether taking on special interests or standing up to partisan power grabs, Kathy meets challenges head-on and fights to ensure every Floridian is fairly represented and heard. EMILYs List is proud to endorse her for reelection in Florida’s 14th Congressional District, and stand with her in this critical fight.”

The new map, backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, reshapes several Democratic-held seats and is expected to give Republicans a stronger advantage in the state’s congressional delegation. That includes splitting much of CD 14’s Democratic base across multiple districts.

That has turned Castor’s once-comfortable Democratic seat into more of a battlefront.

Castor was first elected to Congress in 2006, becoming the first woman to represent both Hillsborough and Pinellas counties in Congress, where she has become “a leading voice on affordable healthcare, clean energy, and economic opportunity,” according to EMILYs List.

The group highlighted Castor’s work to “protect healthcare coverage for families and people with preexisting conditions” and praised her for being “a champion for Tampa Bay’s economy.” 

Before her time in Congress, Castor worked as an environmental lawyer and served on the Hillsborough County Commission where “she earned a reputation for standing up for working families and protecting Florida’s natural resources.” 

“She believes leadership is about finding solutions, bringing people together, and delivering real results for the communities she serves,” Mackler said. “Kathy has always put Tampa Bay families first, and she is ready to continue her great work in Congress.”

Castor has represented Tampa Bay in Congress for nearly 20 years and has long been one of the region’s most prominent Democratic voices in Washington. Her campaign is expected to lean heavily on that record as she seeks another term.

Castor faces a challenge from Juan Carlose Arauz, who filed on May 20, in the Primary on Aug. 18.