Democrats call out Anna Paulina Luna as ‘coward’ in new billboard campaign

Anna Paulina Luna billboards. Image via DNC

Days after Democrats invited U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna to a town hall in her district, billboards call out Congresswoman as a no-show.

National Democrats purchased billboards that go up this week in Florida’s 13th Congressional District that criticize the St. Petersburg Republican for failing to meet with constituents. The message “Rep. Luna = Coward” appears in large red type alongside a photo of the second-term Representative.

The phone number for Luna’s Washington office also appears on the sign, along with the words “won’t talk to her constituents” with a red arrow pointing at her face.

“Rep. Anna Paulina Luna refuses to meet with her constituents after voting to take away health care and make it harder for families to put food on the table,” said Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin.

“This isn’t surprising — over the last few months, one word has come to describe Republicans: cowards. If Republicans won’t show up, then Democrats will. We are hosting events in Republican-held districts and we are pasting Republican representatives’ phone numbers on billboards across their district because working families deserve to be heard.”

Democrats have targeted incumbent Republicans in battleground districts ever since POLITICO reported leadership in the House was advising against members hosting town halls amid an “angry backlash” at President Donald Trump.

This weekend, Democrats held a town hall in Clearwater and kept a seat open for Luna while making clear the event was open to constituents from across the political spectrum. Whitney Fox, Luna’s Democratic opponent last year, attended the event, as did Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried.

The state party also held events in several other districts represented by Republicans, but the national party investment in billboards is focused on CD 13, a clear sign Democrats intend once again to invest in beating Luna this cycle. House Majority PAC, the super PAC dedicated to expanding the Democratic caucus in the House, already listed CD 13 as a targeted district, the only one in Florida. The national party announced similar billboards will appear in eight other districts across the country targeting other vulnerable Republicans.

The billboards criticizing Luna are paid for by the DNC, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Association of State Democratic Committees, the organization behind the national series of town hall events.