National and local Democrats targeted Anna Paulina Luna's seat as a top pickup opportunity due to her MAGA-aligned approach in a competitive district (Tampa Bay Times).
Luna faced criticism from opponents and even some GOP voters for partisanship and contributing to government gridlock, opening her to "extremist" or "divisive" labels (Tampa Bay Times, Washington Post).
Multiple Democratic contenders ran against Luna, fueling a strong and sustained challenge and adding to her "potentially vulnerable" status (Tampa Bay Times, NBC - 8 WFLA).
Luna was repeatedly criticized by Democratic opponents for voting against local district interests and for her handling of FEMA funds and other key issues (Washington Post, Tampa Bay Times).
Some Republican voters expressed personal frustration with Luna, acknowledging her divisiveness but reluctantly continuing to support her, which could signal future weakening of her base (Washington Post).
2023: Luna Cited Gas Prices And Foreign Policy As Key Issues For Voters According to Washington Examiner, "Luna said on the campaign trail that gas prices, inflation, and the Biden administration's handling of foreign policy have been major sources of concern." [Washington Examiner, 2/7/23]
First Quarter 2024: Anna Paulina Luna Was Outraised By Democrat Whitney Fox According to Tampa Bay Times, "That's shy of the nearly $200,000 total in such contributions posted by Democrat Whitney Fox." [Tampa Bay Times, 4/16/24]
First Quarter 2024: Anna Paulina Luna Reported About $636,000 Cash On Hand According to Tampa Bay Times, "Luna reported some $636,000 cash on hand in this latest quarter, which is more than twice that of Fox, her closest rival." [Tampa Bay Times, 4/16/24]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Cited Home Prices, Inflation, And Foreign Policy As Key Voter Concerns In an interview with Fox Business, Anna Paulina Luna said, "Democrats are trying to make it about abortion, but I'm hearing people talk about what's happening with the economy. Right now, home prices are simply not affordable. We have inflation, not to mention our foreign policy debacle. [...] There's a lot of people that are afraid of getting drafted. I'm hearing that. I actually just addressed a war college recently. And to hear those service members actually think that they might get drafted, I don't want the American people, I don't want people to have to fear that." [Interview - Anna Paulina Luna with Fox Business (Neil Cavuto), 4/16/24]
April 2024: Luna Emphasized Voter Concerns About Economy, Inflation, And Foreign Policy Over Abortion According to CQ Transcriptions, Luna said, "Democrats are trying to make it about abortion, but I'm hearing people talk about what's happening with the economy. Right now, home prices are simply not affordable. We have inflation, not to mention our foreign policy debacle." [CQ Transcriptions, 4/16/24]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Expressed Doubt Democrats Could Win November Election In an interview with FBN, Mornings with Maria, Anna Paulina Luna said, "I don't believe that there's any world where this November a Democrat wins because of what's happened with the economy, what's happened on foreign policy, what's happening with our military and what's happening with our country." [Interview - Anna Paulina Luna with FBN, Mornings with Maria, 6/28/24]
2024: Democratic Candidate Fox Accused Luna Of Voting Against District's Interests According to Washington Post, "Fox accused the Republican of 'voting against the best interests of the district,' pointing to Luna's FEMA vote and spreading of disinformation on social media." [Washington Post, 11/1/24]
November 2024: Luna Blamed Opponent For Heated Race According to NBC - 8 WFLA, "Rep. Anna Paulina Luna partly blames her opponent, Democrat Whitney Fox, for a heated race. 'I didn't feel the need to have to dox anyone, or frankly use negative tactics to get elected,' Paulina Luna said. 'I have a one-year-old son at home. She failed to condemn her supporters posting our personal addresses.'" [NBC - 8 WFLA, 11/1/24]
November 2024: Luna Criticized Fox For Focusing On Local Issues According to NBC - 8 WFLA, 'Our positions have been focused on federal issues. She's campaigning on local. I think she should probably run for local office, if she has a passion about them,' Luna said. [NBC - 8 WFLA, 11/1/24]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Was Targeted For Challenge In Florida's 13th Congressional District According to Tampa Bay Times, "A Gulfport Democrat running for the congressional seat held by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-St. Petersburg, was once jailed and involuntarily committed to a medical facility following an arrest on domestic assault charges. [...] Liccione filed in June to be the first official challenger against Luna for the District 13 seat." [Tampa Bay Times, 9/18/23]
Democrats Targeted Anna Paulina Luna's Seat As 2024 Pickup Opportunity According to Tampa Bay Times, "Democrats locally and statewide have targeted Luna's seat, which encompasses most of Pinellas County, including portions of St. Petersburg, as a potential blue pickup in 2024." [Tampa Bay Times, 9/18/23]
2023: Anna Paulina Luna Was The Incumbent For Florida's 13th District According to Tampa Bay Times, "John Liccione, 62, saw the charges dismissed and later expunged from his record when his now ex-wife declined to testify against him, according to filings in the U.S. District Court of Maryland. Liccione filed in June to be the first official challenger against Luna for the District 13 seat." [Tampa Bay Times, 9/18/23]
2023: Anna Paulina Luna Was Criticized For Partisanship By Opponent Whitney Fox According to Tampa Bay Times, "'Right now, our government is at a standstill because of Anna Paulina Luna, who has used her position to cause chaos and confusion to raise her profile,' Fox said in the statement." [Tampa Bay Times, 10/23/23]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Claimed Her Campaign Manager Was Assaulted By Opponent's Supporter In an interview with Fox News, Anna Paulina Luna said, "yesterday I actually had -- unfortunately, my campaign manager, who's a woman, was assaulted by one of Whitney Fox's supporters at the Clearwater Courthouse for early voting. And so what we're finding right now is, because of the polarized media, largely due to the rhetoric that Kamala Harris and Whitney Fox have been putting out, people are getting hurt." [Interview - Anna Paulina Luna with Fox News SUNDAY MORNING FUTURES, 11/3/24]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Reported Her Campaign Manager Was Assaulted During Early Voting In an interview with Fox News, Anna Paulina Luna said, "yesterday I actually had -- unfortunately, my campaign manager, who's a woman, was assaulted by one of Whitney Fox's supporters at the Clearwater Courthouse for early voting. And so what we're finding right now is, because of the polarized media, largely due to the rhetoric that Kamala Harris and Whitney Fox have been putting out, people are getting hurt." [Interview - Anna Paulina Luna with Fox News (Sunday Morning Futures), 11/3/24]
October 2024: Luna Encouraged Voters To Participate Early And In Person According to Fox News INGRAHAM ANGLE, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna stated, "Remember, vote early, vote in person, and we're going to win this Election Day." [Fox News INGRAHAM ANGLE, 10/30/24]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Urged Early, In-Person Voting for Trump In an interview with Fox News, Anna Paulina Luna said, "Remember, vote early, vote in person, and we're going to win this Election Day." [Interview - Anna Paulina Luna with Fox News, 10/30/24]
November 2024: Anna Paulina Luna Campaigned For Herself And Donald Trump In Dunedin According to NBC - 8 WFLA, "On the other side, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna was in Dunedin campaigning for herself, and Donald Trump." [NBC - 8 WFLA: Web Edition Articles (Florida), 11/2/24]
November 2024: Anna Paulina Luna Hosted Car Parade With Trump Campaign In Dunedin According to NBC - 8 WFLA, "In Dunedin, members of former President Donald Trump's campaign and Congresswoman Paulina Luna hosted a car parade, where several voters turned up to show their support." [NBC - 8 WFLA: Web Edition Articles (Florida), 11/2/24]
April 2025: Luna Held Pinellas Congressional Seat Targeted By DCCC For 2026 According to NBC - 8 WFLA: Web Edition Articles, "This week, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released its list of seats it will target ahead of November 2026. Three are in Florida and include a district that covers most of Pinellas County. Currently, the seat is held by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna." [NBC - 8 WFLA: Web Edition Articles, 4/10/25]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Identified Economy and Immigration As Top Issues For Voters In an interview with Sunday Morning Futures, Anna Paulina Luna said, "I think, right now number one being the economy. Also too, when you're talking about the various parties, like, for example, Jewish Americans or Muslim Americans that are supporting President Trump, it's because of his peace perspective and foreign policy on the Middle East. [...] I have talked to over 60,000 voters in my home county of Pinellas County, and I have talked to independents and Democrats... and they simply don't think that it's fair that right now you have people just walking through the southern border and causing chaos in our country." [Interview - Anna Paulina Luna with Sunday Morning Futures, 11/3/24]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Predicted GOP Control Of Congress And White House If Trends Continue In an interview with Fox News, Anna Paulina Luna said, "I think that we're in luck. We're going to have a juggernaut, meaning we will have the House, the Senate, and the White House. And if that happens, Maria, it's going to be a great day for America the next day." [Interview - Anna Paulina Luna with Fox News SUNDAY MORNING FUTURES, 11/3/24]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Identified Economy And Middle East Policy As Key Issues For Minority Groups Supporting Trump In an interview with Fox News, Anna Paulina Luna said, "I think, right now number one being the economy. Also too, when you're talking about the various parties, like, for example, Jewish Americans or Muslim Americans that are supporting President Trump, it's because of his peace perspective and foreign policy on the Middle East." [Interview - Anna Paulina Luna with Fox News SUNDAY MORNING FUTURES, 11/3/24]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Criticized Kamala Harris Administration For Instability In Israel In an interview with Fox News, Anna Paulina Luna said, "We're finding right now that, as you had stated earlier, Kamala Harris is sending out two very different messages. And under her watch and this administration, there's been nothing but war and chaos in Israel. And so I think people right now want stability." [Interview - Anna Paulina Luna with Fox News SUNDAY MORNING FUTURES, 11/3/24]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Claimed Young Men Favored Trump Due To His Message In an interview with Fox News' Jesse Watters, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said, "Frankly, young men seeing the direct message that Trump has for them on those platforms is showing them that he truly is a better message, a better candidate and a better leader for this country, especially with the predictions that if Kamala Harris is elected, that it's very likely that we will end up in World War Three." [Interview - Rep. Anna Paulina Luna with Fox News' Jesse Watters, 11/3/24]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Predicted GOP Sweep If House, Senate, and Presidency Won In an interview with Fox News, Anna Paulina Luna said, "I think that we're in luck. We're going to have a juggernaut, meaning we will have the House, the Senate, and the White House. And if that happens, Maria, it's going to be a great day for America the next day." [Interview - Anna Paulina Luna with Fox News (Sunday Morning Futures), 11/3/24]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Attributed Policy Appeal To Economy And Border Security In an interview with Fox News, Anna Paulina Luna said, "I think, right now number one being the economy. [...] But also too, when you look at what's happening with the unvetted, unchecked illegal immigration, Maria, I have talked to over 60,000 voters in my home county of Pinellas County, and I have talked to independents and Democrats, Democrats that registered that were new to this country, and they simply don't think that it's fair that right now you have people just walking through the southern border and causing chaos in our country." [Interview - Anna Paulina Luna with Fox News (Sunday Morning Futures), 11/3/24]
2024: Some District Republicans Expressed Frustration But Voted For Luna According to Washington Post, Republican voters such as John Zimnik "acknowledged frustration with Luna while still planning to support her," describing her with the nickname 'Loony Luna' but concluding, "She's still a part of the party." [Washington Post, 11/1/24]
Anna Paulina Luna Expressed Confidence About Her Reelection Bid In District 13 According to Tampa Bay Times, "'I'm always willing to take advice but full transparency I'm in a R+8 so we're not super concerned,' Luna texted back, according to Fox News. More recently, Luna has called any suggestion that her race is competitive an invention of the liberal press." [Tampa Bay Times, 10/24/24]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Asserted Trump's Campaign Was Winning Due to Public Sentiment In an interview with Fox News, Anna Paulina Luna said, "The reason why President Trump is so positive is there is one point in a campaign, and every single person who has ever run for office will tell you, you know when you're going to win, and I think he knows he is going to win. We just need people to show up and vote." [Interview - Anna Paulina Luna with Fox News, 10/30/24]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Claimed Young Men Favored Trump Over Kamala Harris In an interview with Fox News' Jesse Watters, Anna Paulina Luna said, "Frankly, young men seeing the direct message that Trump has for them on those platforms is showing them that he truly is a better message, a better candidate and a better leader for this country, especially with the predictions that if Kamala Harris is elected, that it's very likely that we will end up in World War Three." [Interview - Anna Paulina Luna with Fox News' Jesse Watters, 11/3/24]
November 2024: Anna Paulina Luna Outraised Whitney Fox By Nearly $1 Million According to Tampa Bay Times, "Luna outraised Fox by nearly $1 million. But Fox had caught up to Luna in available cash by October, with $807,000 to Luna's $812,000." [Tampa Bay Times, 11/6/24]
November 2024: Luna Defeated Whitney Fox In Congressional Election For Pinellas According to NBC - 8 WFLA: Web Edition Articles, "The Pinellas County republican defeated Democrat Whitney Fox back in November. Official results show it was around 55% to 45%." [NBC - 8 WFLA: Web Edition Articles, 4/10/25]
2022: Luna Stated She Would Support A Trump-DeSantis Ticket In 2024 According to Tampa Bay Times, "Luna, who has been endorsed by Trump, said she'd support a Trump-DeSantis ticket." [Tampa Bay Times, 7/22/22]
April 2024: Seven Democrats Filed To Challenge Anna Paulina Luna In Florida's 13th District According to Tampa Bay Times, "Seven Democrats in all have filed to challenge Luna, an outspoken conservative who represents much of Pinellas County." [Tampa Bay Times, 4/16/24]
April 2024: Anna Paulina Luna Did Not Have A Primary Challenger According to Tampa Bay Times, "Luna does not currently have a primary challenger." [Tampa Bay Times, 4/16/24]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Held The Pinellas County Congressional Seat According to Tampa Bay Times, "The Pinellas County congressional seat held by Republican Anna Paulina Luna is a target for Democrats in November." [Tampa Bay Times, 4/24/24]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Faced No Republican Primary Challenger According to Tampa Bay Times, "Luna has no primary challenger. While her Democratic opponents campaign against one another, Luna can save campaign resources for the November general election." [Tampa Bay Times, 4/24/24]
July 2024: Anna Paulina Luna Declined To Participate In Televised Candidate Forum According to Tampa Bay Times, "Luna, the incumbent for the Pinellas County district, was invited, but she declined to participate." [Tampa Bay Times, 7/22/24]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Expressed Confidence In RNC Leadership For Election Integrity In an interview with Fox News, Anna Paulina Luna said, "I have a lot of confidence in what President Trump did with putting Whatley as the co-chair of the RNC, along with Lara Trump, who has nothing but the invested interests of her family succeeding, for good reason." [Interview - Anna Paulina Luna with Fox News (Sunday Morning Futures), 11/3/24]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Urged Voters To Support Trump In an interview with Fox News' Jesse Watters, Anna Paulina Luna said, "So what I will tell you and people that honestly haven't voted yet, is get there, get to the polls. Don't listen to the voter suppression. He's going to win, but he needs you to show up. So vote Trump two days from now." [Interview - Anna Paulina Luna with Fox News' Jesse Watters, 11/3/24]
May 2024: Anna Paulina Luna Faced Democratic Opposition In Her District Over Vote According to Tampa Bay Times, "Five Democrats are running to oust Luna from the district that covers most of Pinellas County: Sabrina Bousbar, Liz Dahan, Whitney Fox, John Liccione and Mark Weinkrantz. In a statement, Bousbar criticized Luna for her vote. The other Democrats said they would have voted yes." [Tampa Bay Times, 5/2/24]
11/5/24: Associated Press Projected Anna Paulina Luna Won Reelection In Florida's 13th District According to NBC - 8 WFLA, "Anna Paulina Luna (R) is projected to win reelection, defeating Whitney Fox (D) to represent Florida's 13th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to the Associated Press." [NBC - 8 WFLA, 11/5/24]
11/5/24: AP Declared Anna Paulina Luna Winner Of Key U.S. House Seat In Pinellas According to Tampa Bay Times, "The AP has called Congressional District 13 for GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna as she leads Democratic challenger Whitney Fox by 9 points with 91% of votes in. Luna was expected to hold on to the Pinellas County seat. But the early call is a loss for Democrats, who saw the race as an opportunity to flip a U.S. House seat in 2024. Luna carried the seat, which was redrawn to lean toward Republicans, by 8 points in 2022." [Tampa Bay Times, 11/5/24]
November 2024: Anna Paulina Luna Defeated Whitney Fox For Florida's 13th Congressional District Seat According to Tampa Bay Times, "First-term Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna quashed Democratic opponent Whitney Fox for the Pinellas County seat that national Democrats targeted as a pickup opportunity." [Tampa Bay Times, 11/6/24]
November 2024: Anna Paulina Luna Led By Nearly 10 Points With 93% Of Ballots Counted In Her Race According to Tampa Bay Times, "With 93% of ballots in, Luna was nearly 10 points ahead of Fox in a race the incumbent was expected to win narrowly." [Tampa Bay Times, 11/6/24]
2024: Luna Faced Multiple Democratic Opponents in Reelection Bid According to Orlando Sentinel, "Five Democrats are running to oust Luna from the district that covers most of Pinellas County: Sabrina Bousbar, Liz Dahan, Whitney Fox, John Liccione and Mark Weinkrantz." [Orlando Sentinel (Florida), 5/4/24]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Sought Reelection In Pinellas County District According to South Florida Sun-Sentinel, "Gaetz, Donalds, Frost, Diaz-Balart and Luna are all up for reelection this November. Five Democrats are running to oust Luna from the district that covers most of Pinellas County: Sabrina Bousbar, Liz Dahan, Whitney Fox, John Liccione and Mark Weinkrantz." [South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 5/5/24]
2024: Tampa Bay Times Identified Five Democrats In The Primary Opposing Anna Paulina Luna According to Tampa Bay Times, "Five made the primary ballot: Sabrina Bousbar, a former Biden White House aide; Liz Dahan, a former aide to then-Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota; former Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority communications director Whitney Fox; businessperson and veteran John Liccione; and retired pilot and veteran Mark Weinkrantz." [Tampa Bay Times, 5/16/24]
2024: Tampa Bay Times Ranked Anna Paulina Luna As 'Potentially Vulnerable' In Florida's 13th Congressional District According to Tampa Bay Times, "Five incumbents find themselves in our third-highest of four categories: 'Potentially Vulnerable.' But each of them remains the clear favorite for reelection: Republican Reps. Anna Paulina Luna of Pinellas County [...]" [Tampa Bay Times, 5/16/24]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Maintained $636,000 In Campaign Funds Ahead Of 2024 Election According to Tampa Bay Times, "Luna has $636,000 in the bank." [Tampa Bay Times, 5/16/24]
2024: Tampa Bay Times Reported Anna Paulina Luna Adopted MAGA-Style Positions In A Competitive District According to Tampa Bay Times, "Democrats hold out some hope in the district because Luna is a freshman and because she's taken a MAGA-style approach in a district that is not staunchly Republican. That has attracted a large field of Democratic primary candidates." [Tampa Bay Times, 5/16/24]
2024: Anna Paulina Luna Ran For Reelection Against Whitney Fox In Florida's Pinellas County According to NBC - 8 WFLA, "Luna is currently running for reelection against Democratic challenger Whitney Fox." [NBC - 8 WFLA: Web Edition Articles (Florida), 9/18/24]