Seven Local and Regional Labor Organizations Back Leela Gray to Unseat Anna Paulina Luna

Organized labor rallies behind Gray as working families demand relief from skyrocketing costs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 13, 2026

CONTACT: Sera Guerry | sera@leelagray.com

St. Petersburg, FL — Today, retired Army Brigadier General and Democratic congressional candidate Leela Gray announced the endorsement of seven local and regional labor organizations, marking another major show of momentum from organized labor in her campaign to unseat self-serving incumbent Anna Paulina Luna.

Gray previously underscored her commitment to working families following the endorsement of the Florida AFL-CIO:

“Hardworking Floridians across FL-13 keep our communities running, and they are fed up with being overlooked by Anna Paulina Luna,” Gray said. “While she is looking out for herself, working families are paying the price through higher costs, threats to their healthcare, and opportunity that feels increasingly out of reach. With the support of this coalition of working people, we are going to win in November and bring accountability back to Pinellas and Pasco Counties.”

The endorsements represent working people across healthcare, construction, transportation, public service, and other essential industries who are tired of being ignored by Anna Paulina Luna while the cost of groceries, housing, healthcare, and insurance continues to skyrocket.

The labor organizations endorsing Gray include:

UAW Region 8; Largo, Pasco, Bradenton, the Southern United States — Over 64,000 active and 50,000 retired automotive, manufacturing, aerospace, and public-sector workers.
IBEW Local 915; Tampa Bay, Pinellas, Pasco, surrounding counties — Over 1,300 electrical construction workers.
1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East; statewide, southeast United States — Over 80,000 diverse professional and essential employees across the healthcare industries.
UFCW Local 1625; Lakeland, Central Florida, statewide — Over 8,000 grocery, retail, food processing, and healthcare workers.
AFSCME PEOPLE Committee; Central Florida, statewide — Over 12,000 state, county, and municipal public employees.
Ironworkers Local 397; Pinellas, Pasco, surrounding counties — Over 600 members in structural ironwork and construction.
Teamsters Local 79; Tampa Bay, Southwest Florida — Over 6,000 transportation, freight, delivery, warehousing, and public service workers.

The endorsements underscore a growing frustration among working Floridians who are putting in long hours but falling further behind as everyday costs climb. Moreover, these latest endorsements build on Gray's earlier support from the Florida AFL-CIO and the West Central Florida Labor Council, strengthening a coalition of working people demanding leadership that prioritizes making life more affordable and service over self.

With less than a month until Election Day, the expanding labor coalition adds to growing local support behind Gray and reinforces the momentum in FL-13 as General Gray takes on Anna Paulina Luna.

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About Leela Gray

Leela Gray is a third-generation veteran, retired U.S. Army Brigadier General, 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.