Anna Paulina Luna advanced unopposed in Florida’s 13th Congressional District Republican primary on August 18, 2026, clearing a path to face Democrat Leela Gray in November’s general election.
Luna, the incumbent U.S. Representative, ran without opposition after the primary was canceled, according to Ballotpedia and Fox 13 News. The unopposed advance is typical for a well-positioned incumbent in a safe district.
Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, retired Army Brigadier General Leela Gray won her party’s primary with a commanding 65.1% of the vote, receiving 32,033 votes compared to 12,893 for runner-up Brandt Robinson and 4,250 for John William Liccione, according to Fox 13 News. Gray’s decisive primary victory positions her as the Democratic challenger for the November 3, 2026, general election.
Gray, a third-generation veteran and small business leader from Pinellas County, announced her candidacy in February 2026, according to the Tampa Bay Times. She has drawn endorsements from national Democratic figures, including U.S. Representative Ted Lieu and the women’s political organization EMILYs List, which cited her military background and commitment to expanding opportunities in Florida.
Luna has served in Congress since 2023 and is the first Mexican-American woman elected to Congress from Florida, according to Wikipedia. The general election in Florida’s 13th District is rated as likely to remain Republican by the Cook Political Report, though recent polling shows a competitive race. One poll cited by Facebook user Ryan Fournier showed Luna leading Gray 47% to 44% in the district.
The race represents one of several competitive House contests Democrats are targeting in Florida for 2026, according to reporting from U.S. Resist News. Gray has emphasized her military service and small-business experience as key credentials for representing the district, which spans parts of Pasco and Pinellas counties.
Sources
- Fox 13 News — live primary election results for Florida’s 13th Congressional District on August 18, 2026, including vote totals and percentages for all candidates
- Ballotpedia — confirmation that the Republican primary was canceled and Luna advanced unopposed
- Wikipedia — Luna’s background as the first Mexican-American woman elected to Congress from Florida
- Tampa Bay Times — Gray’s announcement of her candidacy in February 2026
- EMILYs List — endorsement of Gray and her campaign background
- Cook Political Report — race rating as likely Republican
- U.S. Resist News — context on Democratic targeting of Florida House seats
