Whitney Fox wins Florida Democratic primary to challenge Luna in House race

A former local government official has won the Democratic nomination for the House seat representing Florida’s 13th Congressional District, setting up a match-up with Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), Decision Desk HQ projects.

Whitney Fox, the former director of communications and marketing for the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority in Pinellas County, defeated a few other opponents for the nomination. She had the support of several top House Democrats, including Rep. Eric Swalwell (Calif.) and Florida Reps. Kathy Castor, Lois Frankel and Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

Democrats will hope she can oust Luna, who was first elected to the House in 2022, flipping the district from blue to red. Former Rep. Charlie Crist (D-Fla.) had previously represented the district, but he declined to run for reelection two years ago for an unsuccessful gubernatorial bid, and the district became more conservative following Florida’s redistricting process.

Luna is a close ally of former President Trump and a member of the House Freedom Caucus.

The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates the race as “likely Republican.”