Congressman Ted Lieu Endorses Leela Gray for Florida's 13th Congressional District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: June 25th, 2026

St. Petersburg, FL — Today, retired Brigadier General and Democratic congressional candidate Leela Gray announced the endorsement of Congressman Ted Lieu (CA-36), a member of House Democratic Leadership and a veteran of the United States Air Force. Lieu joins a growing coalition of national leaders who have rallied behind Gray's campaign to flip Florida's 13th Congressional District.

"Our country is at an inflection point,” said Lieu. We need leaders who know how to cut through chaos and actually get things done. I know what real leadership looks like. Leela Gray has it. Rising to the rank of Brigadier General, her career was grounded in the principles of getting the job done and taking care of people. FL-13 has had enough chaos. It's time for leadership. Leela Gray will deliver it and I'm proud to endorse her."

"Ted Lieu is a veteran, a prosecutor, and one of the most effective members of Congress when it comes to holding people accountable," said Gray. "When someone with his background looks at this race and says FL-13 deserves better, that carries real weight. I am honored to have his endorsement and even more motivated to deliver the results this community has been waiting for."

Lieu joins a growing coalition of community leaders and national organizations that have recognized Gray as the battle-tested leader Florida needs in Congress. The list includes the Florida AFL-CIO, Congresswoman Kathy Castor (FL-14), Former State Representative Ben Diamond, Ruth’s List founder Alex Sink, fellow veterans and U.S. Reps. Jason Crow and Pat Ryan, Safety Harbor Mayor Joe Ayoub, EMILY’s List, New Politics, and VoteVets.

About Leela Gray

Retired Army Brigadier General Leela Gray is a third-generation veteran, attorney, small business leader, and mother running for Congress in Florida's 13th Congressional District. The first in her family to attend college, Leela worked her way through school and served more than 30 years in uniform, including two combat deployments and a peacekeeping mission. She retired in 2018 as Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Central and subsequently advised U.S. Army Cyber Command on modernizing national cyber policy. After retiring from the military, Leela served on non-profit and private sector advisory boards, and earned her law degree to help veterans access healthcare and other critical benefits. Leela and her husband, Tony, have lived in the Tampa Bay area for more than 20 years and are proud parents of their adult daughter. Learn more at leelagray.com.

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