Pinellas Politics: Leela Gray targets affordability in tight Senate race

Retired Army Brigadier General Leela Gray is leading a ground game in Pinellas County as she seeks to unseat Republican state senator Anna Paulina Luna. Gray appeared with Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly and other party officials at Bethel Community Baptist Church in St. Petersburg on Friday night.

The race in District 13 is viewed as difficult for Democrats. The Republican-controlled Legislature recently redrew the district's boundaries. The new map removed blue-leaning areas like St. Petersburg and Gulfport from the district's scope.

Gray framed her platform around economic pressures facing households. She told WUSF she plans to challenge insurance monopolies and corporate power that drive up premiums. She also supports a tax cut for the middle class.

"This election is about putting people and families first," Gray said. "Our community deserves leaders who will fight for the cost of living crisis that's gripping our families and businesses."

Gray emphasized her three decades of military service as a counterpoint to her opponent's political career. She noted that she deployed three times and commanded troops four times. "My entire life's work has been grounded in service over self," she said. "She spends her time serving herself and her donors."

Luna defeated Democrat Whitney Fox by approximately 10 percentage points in her last election in 2024. Gray said her campaign has prioritized health care, veterans, and cost-of-living issues since the start of the cycle.