PRESS RELEASE
Tampa Bay Times Recommends Leela Gray, Rebukes Anna Paulina Luna’s Record in Congress
Local paper of record recommendation praises Gray’s lifetime of service and concludes she has the background to be a “clear-thinking and conscientious member of Congress”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 9, 2026
CONTACT: Sera Guerry | sera@leelagray.com
St. Petersburg, FL — Today, the Tampa Bay Times recommended retired Army Brigadier General Leela Gray for Congress in Florida’s 13th Congressional District, the latest major sign of local momentum for Gray as she campaigns to unseat self-serving Anna Paulina Luna.
The Times described Gray as running a “competitive and energetic race” and wrote that her lifetime of service has prepared her well to represent the district in Congress.
“While Anna Paulina Luna has spent her time in Washington chasing headlines and serving her own agenda, families here are struggling to afford their homes, healthcare, and groceries," Gray said. "The people of Pinellas County deserve a representative who shows up, does the hard work, and puts their needs first. This recommendation is another sign of the momentum we’re building right here at home. Together we can carry it all the way to victory in November.”
Read highlights from the recommendation here: Our picks for U.S. House of Representatives | Recommendations
The recommendation highlighted the contrast at the heart of Gray’s campaign: a retired general who has spent decades putting service over self against an incumbent the Times said has been too focused on her own agenda rather than the problems facing the district.
“Leela Gray has lived a life of service, which has prepared her well for Congress… she’s running a competitive and energetic race.
“Gray…spent more than 30 years in the Army, including two combat deployments, and retired in 2018 as Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Central.
“Gray… entered the race because she believes Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is too focused on her own agenda rather than the district’s problems.
“[Gray] wants to take on insurance companies that drive up property, flood and health premiums and restore accountability to the office through bipartisan problem-solving. She said she doesn’t need the limelight and prefers action over accolades.
“Gray’s family sometimes relied on food stamps and free school lunches when she was growing up. That background and decades of service help her relate to the hardships many Tampa Bay families, including military families, face.”
The recommendation also scrutinized Luna’s record in Washington
“Luna hasn’t pushed many bills across the finish line. She wasted energy on unneeded bills like one that directed the federal government to add President Donald Trump to Mount Rushmore.
“She was near the bottom of the…effectiveness index. Her voting record is significantly more conservative than the district she represents, according to a report from the conservative-leaning Institute for Legislative Analysis.”
The Times ultimately concluded: “Gray has the background to be a clear-thinking and conscientious member of Congress. She has our recommendation.”
The hometown recommendation comes as Gray continues to build momentum in one of the country’s most competitive congressional races. In the last few weeks, Inside Elections, Cook Political Report and Fox News have all moved FL-13 in Gray’s direction, while a House Majority PAC poll showed Gray leading Luna 51% to 46%.
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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.