Leela Gray doubles down on CD 13 bid

Retired Brig. Gen. Leela Gray will continue to run in Florida’s 13th Congressional District after state lawmakers approved a new congressional map reshaping the political terrain in Tampa Bay.

Gray, a Democrat, released a new video reaffirming her campaign for CD 13 and accusing Republicans in Washington and Tallahassee of trying to gerrymander their way out of a competitive race.

“Just this week, Washington and Tallahassee politicians chose to gerrymander Florida’s congressional districts. It’s not fair and it was done in the dark, and it was against the Florida Constitution. Why did they do it? Because they can’t win on their own merits. I spent 30 years in the Army, including deployments to two combat operations, and I’m not backing down,” Gray said in her video. 

The message comes days after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the new congressional map, reworking most of Florida’s congressional districts and giving Republicans a more favorable path in several seats ahead of November. 

Redistricting has had a major impact on the Tampa Bay area, including CD 13 — where Gray’s campaign said the new map attempts to shield incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna from voter frustration over affordability concerns, including rising insurance, housing, gas and grocery costs.

The redrawn map removes southern Pinellas County from the district, including a significant voting bloc of Democratic voters in St. Petersburg. But it does pick up some Democratic voters who were previously in Florida’s 14th Congressional District in the exchange.

“I’m here to fight for my neighbors. I’m here to fight for our small businesses, our seniors, our veterans, and most importantly our working families who are being crushed by the high cost of insurance, housing, gas and groceries. Guess who’s not even listening, much less doing anything, to solve these problems. Congresswoman Luna,” Gray said.

In a written statement, Gray said redrawn maps do not change core issues affecting Floridians today.

“Washington and Tallahassee politicians cannot gerrymander away the reality Floridians face every day. Congresswoman Luna can’t hide from her failure to address the skyrocketing costs of insurance, housing, and groceries,” Gray said.

“No matter how they draw the district lines, the people of Florida will get their say in November. Their attempt to rig the election only fuels our resolve to win because people want leaders who put serving the people first and are willing to bring real change.”  

Gray entered the race earlier this year with significant financial backing, raising about $564,000 in the first quarter. She entered the second quarter with $500,000 in cash on hand, a record for a Democratic challenger’s first-quarter fundraising in CD 13, according to her campaign.

Gray’s campaign highlighted endorsements from U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor of CD 14, EMILY’s List, VoteVets and Veterans for Responsible Leadership.

Gray said she is a service-oriented outsider looking in, and is mounting her best effort to flip CD 13 blue during the upcoming election.

The district has been a central battleground in Tampa Bay that Luna flipped the seat red in 2022. The latest map redraw changes the contours of that fight, but Gray’s campaign is betting that backlash to the process — combined with concerns over affordability — can keep the race competitive.

“I’m not a politician, I’ve never aspired to be a politician, but I have always aspired to serve others and to serve our country. Today that service still guides me and I’m not going anywhere,” Gray said. 

In a statement accompanying the video, Gray said the race is a choice between leadership and political theater.

“Every day, people are coming off the sidelines and joining our campaign because our mission transcends district lines. This race is a choice between leadership and chaos. It’s time we put the people of this district ahead of political theater,” she said.