Kathy Castor to headline Whitney Fox campaign rally as voting is already underway for CD 13

CASTOR FOX
Fox is so far the apparent front-runner in the race to take on Anna Paulina Luna.

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor will join Whitney Fox, a Democratic candidate for Florida’s 13th Congressional District, for a campaign rally Saturday, headlining an event before heading out with volunteers to canvass for Fox.

The rally begins Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. at Josiah Cephas Weaver Park at Shelter 1, located at 1258 Bayshore Blvd. in Dunedin.

Remarks from Castor are expected to center on why Fox is the best Democratic candidate in the race to take on incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna in November. Following remarks, volunteers will head out to knock on doors encouraging voters to cast a ballot for Fox in the Aug. 20 Primary.

Fox is one of five Democrats vying for their party’s nomination in the Pinellas County-based district. She faces Sabrina Bousbar, Liz Dahan, John Liccione and Mark Weinkrantz. Fox has so far outraised all of them and, when excluding personal loans to their campaigns, has also outraised the entire field combined by more than $100,000. Fox has not loaned her campaign any money.

Liccione has provided more than $233,000 to his campaign, while Weinkrantz has infused his campaign with $200,000 of his own money. Dahan also loaned her campaign $50,000.

Fox is also leading the Democratic field in endorsements, including from Castor. Just this week, Fox secured support from Amy McGrath, a decorated Marine Corps veteran and founder of Honor Bound PAC. That nod came just days after Fox also secured support from EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics. It brings her total support from current and elected officials, community leaders and advocacy organizations to about 60.

That includes a recent endorsement from U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell of California and another from SEIU Florida.

She also recently secured support from Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter, Jaime, was killed in the 2018 Parkland school shooting.

Other backers include U.S. Reps. Kathy CastorLois Frankel and Debbie Wasserman Schultz; state Rep. Lindsay Cross; state Sen.-elect Carlos Guillermo Smith; former St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman; former state Sen. Janet Cruz; former state Reps. Margaret Good and Adam Hattersley; former congressional candidate Alan Cohn; Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers; Pinellas County School Board member Caprice Edmond; St. Pete City Council members Gina DriscollDeborah Figgs-Sanders and Lisset Hanewicz; Oldsmar Vice Mayor Andrew Knapp; Oldsmar City Council member Steve Graber; Gulfport City Council members Paul Ray and April Thanos; former St. Pete Beach Mayor Al Johnson; former Seminole City Council member Jim Olliver; Largo City Commissioner Michael Smith; Dunedin City Commissioner Jeff Gow; Largo City Commissioner Jamie Robinson; and the National Women’s Political Caucus, among others.

Whoever emerges from the Democratic Primary victorious will have a big challenge ahead. Luna won CD 13 for Republicans in 2022 following redistricting, which shifted the district from a slight Democratic advantage to a GOP-leaning seat. Cook Political Report lists it as an R+6 district.

But while the outlet lists CD 13 as “likely Republican,” it is one of only three congressional races in Florida classified as competitive. The other two are listed as “likely Democrat” — Florida’s 9th Congressional District, represented by Darren Soto, and Florida’s 23rd Congressional District, represented by Jared Moskowitz. Both are incumbent Democrats not facing Primary challenges.

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].


3 comments

  • Ron Ogden

    August 10, 2024 at 7:00 am

    Ms. Fox has firmly established herself as the candidate of the local Democratic establishment. It is hard to find an original thought behind any of her statements. She is the Stepford candidate.

    • R Wheels

      August 10, 2024 at 9:15 am

      Would love to know what you think Anna Paulina Luna has done for the county, because all I ever see from Luna is full blown MAGA and making it all about her beloved Donald Trump.

  • Fred Putin

    August 10, 2024 at 9:49 am

    Meanwhile, the press is suppressing evidence of candidate John Liccione being mentally unfit for office. Read: https://www.courts.state.md.us/sites/default/files/unreported-opinions/1098s18.pdf

    “On May 26, Liccione was arrested on domestic violence charges. His arrest warrant and court papers provided the New York Address as his domicile. He was incarcerated and held without bail. 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.”

    As a voter, I sure think this is important to know. Why the coverup?

Comments are closed.


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