Whitney Fox has the fundraising momentum, but Anna Paulina Luna still leads in cash on hand
Did Whitney Fox make a huge misstep amid Helene prep? Image via Whitney Fox for Congress.

Whitney Fox
3 other Democrats in the race are far behind; another just entered the race.

Whitney Fox, a Democrat running for Florida’s 13th Congressional District, has shown positive momentum in her bid to challenge incumbent Republican Anna Paulina Luna, outraising her GOP foe in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Fox raised about $204,000 during the fourth quarter, according to campaign finance records with the Federal Election Commission. That’s compared to the nearly $165,000 Luna raised during the same period.

However, Luna retains a major spending advantage, with more than triple the cash on hand at nearly $550,000 to Fox’s $151,000.

To get to Luna, Fox will have to emerge victorious from a crowded field in the Democratic Primary. She’s well on her way to making that happen. Her closest opponent in fundraising is Mark Weinkrantz, but he’s raised less than $44,000, including a substantial self-investment.

John Liccione has raised less than $25,000 and Peter Owen just $110. Sabrina Bousbar, who as a former Joe Biden administration staffer will likely wage a competitive campaign, has not yet filed any campaign finance documents because she entered the race after the new year.

“We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support our campaign has received,” Fox said.

“The people of Pinellas County are fed up with the chaos in Washington and Luna’s self-serving political games. That’s why we’re organizing in every corner across the district to talk about the issues that matter to voters — like the high cost of groceries and rent and protecting a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions. It’s time we rally together to unseat Luna this November.”

Fox is also dominating the endorsement race in the CD 13 Democratic Primary, with nods already from former U.S. Rep. and current U.S. Senate candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell; former state Reps. Adam Hattersley and Margaret Good; Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers; Largo City Commissioners Jamie Robinson and Michael Smith; Dunedin City Commissioner Jeff Gow; St. Petersburg City Council members Deborah FiggsSanders and Lisset Hanewicz; and the National Women’s Political Caucus.

Fox announced her candidacy in October, just after she resigned from her position as Communications Director for the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, where she ran communications strategy, public policy advisory and other executive functions within the transit agency. Fox was one of the main architects of the SunRunner Bus Rapid Transit line in St. Petersburg, which has outperformed ridership expectations within its first year.

Fox also, in that role, had to work with leaders in both political parties to further transit priorities — that includes at the city, county, state and federal levels.

But she’ll be at a disadvantage in the district. Luna won the district, which covers much of Pinellas County, in 2022 amid a red wave in Florida after the Legislature approved new congressional maps that shifted the voter registration advantage from favoring Democrats to favoring Republicans. Luna ran previously in 2020, losing to then-incumbent Democrat Charlie Crist, who did not seek re-election in 2022 and instead ran for Governor.

The district, drawn to exclude parts of south Pinellas County and include northern parts of the county, now leans red with nearly 199,000 Republican voters to just 151,573 Democrats.

Cook Political Report lists the district as a competitive race, but with a distinct advantage for Republicans at R+6 and likely Republican.

Fox is looking for an opening in a district currently represented by a freshman member of Congress who has often stood with the more extreme conservatives on Capitol Hill, including Matt Gaetz.

Janelle Irwin Taylor

Janelle Irwin Taylor has been a professional journalist covering local news and politics in Tampa Bay since 2003. Most recently, Janelle reported for the Tampa Bay Business Journal. She formerly served as senior reporter for WMNF News. Janelle has a lust for politics and policy. When she’s not bringing you the day’s news, you might find Janelle enjoying nature with her husband, children and two dogs. You can reach Janelle at [email protected].


4 comments

  • Impeach Biden

    February 2, 2024 at 10:40 am

    Dont Kalifornia / Blue State my Florida. That’s why many come here now. You want Blue Politics? Then move to a high tax, high crime, defund the police Blue State.

  • Jared Kushner

    February 2, 2024 at 3:54 pm

    Virtually all of the money raised by John Liccione is his own money, loaned to the campaign. If you look into it, you’ll find there is a pending FEC investigation regarding his campaign improperly using campaign funds to harass his fellow Democratic party members. Seems like a slam dunk case, looking at his website. John Liccione is actually a Trump plant, seeking to destroy any possibility of a Democratic pickup in FL-13. Look into it!

  • Cheesy Floridian

    February 3, 2024 at 3:26 pm

    I hope Luna is gone. It be nice to have a dem or independent serve pinellas.

  • Hans Spencer

    February 5, 2024 at 3:18 am

    https://mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/unreported-opinions/1098s18.pdf

    “In an August 28 competency proceeding, after hearing “details that referenced delusions and paranoia,” the court handling Liccione’s criminal case declared him mentally incompetent and a danger to himself and others. Liccione was committed to the Springfield Psychiatric Hospital.”

Comments are closed.


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