Jacob Ogles
The youngest Republican in Florida’s congressional delegation landed on TIME Magazine’s list of young, influential leaders.
U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna debuted on the publication’s TIME 100 Next alongside a number of civic leaders within her generation. The list, a forward-looking companion to the widely recognized TIME 100 list of the world’s top influence wielders, aims to reflect “what society’s future and future leaders will look like.” It first launched in 2019.
TIME staff writer Eric Cortellessa, who covers Congress and national politics for the publication, wrote a short blurb explaining the St. Petersburg Republican’s inclusion. He notably wrote a full-length feature on the freshman Congresswoman published earlier this year.
“The charismatic Florida freshman is on a mission to disrupt the governing class,” he wrote.
He notes how Luna in her first year in Congress swayed a number of U.S. Representatives to support a censure measure of U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat who led the first impeachment of former President Donald Trump. Many were swayed by a social media campaign waged personally by Luna, who sponsored the censure resolution.
“It was a moment Luna was made for after running Hispanic outreach for the pro-Trump youth group Turning Point USA, where she mastered the art of provocative internet virality,” Cortellessa wrote. “Now the youngest House Republican is using her digital prowess to lead a new class of populists working to redefine the Republican Party.”
Luna welcomed the honor. “It’s official! TIME has named me as one of their TIME 100 NEXT for being a rising leader!” she posted on X.
The national recognition comes after Luna’s first successful race for Congress, and the birth of her first child. It could also help raise the national profile of the lawmaker as she prepares for what could be an intense re-election campaign.
Luna last year won one of Florida’s most competitive and costly federal contests, ultimately besting Democrat Eric Lynn for an open seat. She flipped the seat red two years after losing to Democratic incumbent Charlie Crist in 2020, and after redistricting shifted the district significantly more Republican. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has already started running ads targeting Luna in the 2024 cycle.
4 comments
Joe
September 13, 2023 at 1:41 pm
Undereducated, underqualified, cocktail waitress at a strip club, lads-mag model and instagram influencer, established liar, elected solely due to Trump’s endorsement so she’s still a 2020 election denier: the loony Luna is an embarrassment to the US Congress, not a rising leader of a legitimate political party.
ScienceBLVR
September 13, 2023 at 2:01 pm
Responsible for censuring Adam Schiff? Wow, that’s her greatest accomplishment? Well, sorry Luna, that doesn’t put food on my table, lower Medicare drug costs, help with the property insurance crisis in Florida, or anything else of any interest to her constituents. What a waste of space, she is. Keep that up and no matter how rigged right that district is she won’t get re-elected.
It's Complicated
September 15, 2023 at 5:03 pm
Luna is just as ‘manufactured’ as a Republican Member of Congress as AOC is as a Democratic Member of Congress. Both Luna (BS Biology) and AOC (BS Economics) have college degrees, but unlike AOC, Luna has actually held non-service jobs both in the USAF and as a civilian. Did Luna use her beauty to get ahead? Sure. AOC’s only employment AFTER college was working as a server/bar tender, house cleaner, bus driver, and in a low-level position on Bernie Saunders Campaign.
The U.S. House of Representatives is the ‘peoples house,’ and we get all sorts elected there, no doubt.
Fashion Magazine Covers
September 17, 2023 at 11:31 am
Jill is no doubt plotting Luna’s untimely demise for being recognized as Florida’s Fashionista. Whatever plan Jill comes up with for undermining a politician will be a good solid plan, obviously. Let’s hope it backfires and blows up all over Jill’s face.
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