Jim Davis joins growing list of Democrats backing Leela Gray for CD 13

Former U.S. Rep. Jim Davis is backing Leela Gray’s campaign for Florida’s 13th Congressional District.

Davis represented Tampa and portions of St. Petersburg, Bradenton and Hillsborough County in Congress from 1997 to 2007, and is a former Majority Leader in the Florida House. He was also the 2006 Democratic nominee for Governor. 

His endorsement gives Gray support from a former federal lawmaker with longstanding local ties as Gray campaigns for the Democratic nomination in the race to unseat incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna.

“Having risen to the rank of Brigadier General in the US Army, Leela Gray brings the kind of thoughtful leadership, integrity, and commitment to service that our community deserves,” Davis said. “I’m endorsing her because she understands the challenges Florida families face and has the experience to deliver real results.” 

Gray said she aims to follow in Davis’ footsteps in Congress if elected.

“Few people understand the demands of public service better than Jim Davis,” Gray said.  “He spent 18 years in elected office building a reputation for getting results, even when the politics were hard. That is exactly the standard I intend to meet in Congress, and I am honored to have his support and his trust.” 

Gray has also been endorsed by U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor, Jason Crow of Colorado and Pat Ryan of New York, former state Rep. Ben Diamond, former CFO Alex Sink, Safety Harbor Mayor Joe Ayoub, EMILY’s List, New Politics and VoteVets, the Florida AFL-CIO and the West Central Florida Labor Council.

Gray is a lawyer and third-generation veteran who spent more than 30 years in uniform, including two combat deployments and a peacekeeping mission. She retired in 2018 as Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Central and later advised U.S. Army Cyber Command on national cyber policy modernization.

After retiring from the military, Gray served on nonprofit and private sector advisory boards and earned her law degree with a focus on helping veterans access healthcare and other benefits. She and her husband, Tony, have lived in the Tampa Bay area for more than 20 years.

Gray faces fellow Democrats John William Liccione and Brandt Robinson in the Aug. 18 Primary, while Luna is uncontested for the Republican nomination. No-party candidate Tony D’Arrigo also qualified for the race.