ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) – The balance of power could be impacted by the District 13 congressional race in Pinellas County.
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.”
During a recording of WFLA’s Sunday morning political show Battleground Florida, Fox addressed the claims.
“Anna Paulina Luna will say anything that she can to not address the actual issues we need to be focusing on,” Fox said.
Then, Fox outlined some of those issues.
“My campaign is focused on affordable housing, home insurance crisis, what are we going to do after these two horrible hurricanes devastated our regions,” Fox said.
Luna has a different viewpoint.
“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.
Luna mentioned she recently filed a bipartisan bill to cap student loan interest at 3%.
St. Pete College Political Expert Tara Newsom said the race is close because some moderate Republicans are upset.
“She has really made her entire career on divisiveness. She was a part of the Freedom Caucus that unseat the former speaker. She has really aligned with Donald Trump,” Newsom said.
Newsom also said Fox’s campaign messaging is helping her goal of flipping this Republican-leaning district.
“She’s really leveraging the voter enthusiasm that Harris has brought to the state of Florida, focusing on things like reproductive rights, social equality, and most importantly unity,” Newsom said.
Fox is also challenging Rep. Luna’s voting record when it comes to FEMA funding.
“She has repeatedly voted against funding, for things like FEMA disaster relief. Things that our constituents desperately need,” Fox said.
Before Congress recessed, Rep. Luna voted against the spending plan that funded several federal programs into December and it included billions for disaster relief.
“That bill had massive funding for all the things that we promised we were not going to do,” Luna said.
Days later, the congresswoman proposed her own plan to replenish funds.
“We’ve co-sponsored legislation to introduce an additional $15 billion in FEMA funding,” Luna said.
Fox questions the move.
“I’m curious to know if she plans to vote against it because that is historically what she continues to do when it comes to FEMA funding,” Fox said.
Newsom said the House votes involving FEMA funding could help Fox and hurt Luna.
“Although she has had some good feedback on some of her constituent work, very controversial votes right before the last two hurricanes that are making her very vulnerable,” Newsom said.
Battleground Florida airs Sunday mornings at 9:30am on WFLA.
