Florida AFL-CIO and West Central Florida Labor Council Endorse Leela Gray in FL-13

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: June 17, 2026

St. Petersburg, FL – Today, Retired Brigadier General and candidate for Congress in Florida’s 13th Congressional District received the endorsement of the West Florida Central Labor Council and Florida's AFL-CIO – which represents over 500 local labor unions, 10 councils, and over one million union members, retirees, and their families in the state.

"The working families of Pinellas and Pasco Counties have been ignored for too long while costs keep rising and Washington keeps failing them. They deserve a representative who actually fights for them, said Stephanie Yocum, President of the West Central Florida Labor Council. “Leela Gray has spent her life fighting for the people beside her, standing up for those who have been left behind, and never once putting herself before the mission. She has made clear that the kitchen table issues our members face every day, from insurance costs to worker protections to retirement security, will be her priorities in Congress. We are proud to endorse her and we will be working hard to elect her in November."

The Florida AFL-CIO represents working people across a wide range of industries, including construction, health care, education, agriculture, hospitality, transportation, public safety, and more. As the state's largest federation of unions, the organization advocates for workers and their families through political engagement, legislative action, grassroots organizing, and community service efforts.

“I’m honored to have the support of the Florida AFL-CIO and proud to stand alongside the hardworking Floridians who keep our communities running,” said Gray. “For too long, politicians in Washington have looked out for themselves and the special interests funding their campaigns while working families pay the price through higher costs, threats to their healthcare, and opportunity that feels increasingly out of reach. I’m running to change that and make sure Pinellas has a representative who puts working people first every single day.”

These endorsements are the latest sign of the growing momentum behind General Gray’s campaign. Recent polling shows her tied with Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, and support continues to build with endorsements from Congresswoman Kathy Castor (FL-14), fellow veteran and U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, Ruth’s List founder Alex Sink, 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 cyberpolicy. 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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