April 17th, 2026 Len’s Political Note #805 Leela Gray Florida 13
2026 Primary and General Election
Donald J. Trump would want nothing to do with her. Pete Hegseth would especially not want anything to do with her. A female Brigadier General? The men of this Republican administration see women soldiers as the enemy.
A graduate of North Carolina’s Elon University? Why should the Department of “War” care?
A Master’s Degree from Indiana’s Ball State University? Of no importance to Donald Trump.
How about an MMS from the United States Army War College? If Hegseth could decide it, there probably would be no women at all at the War College.
A JD from Florida’s Stetson University? That does not scare Donald Trump one bit.
In 2018, Brigadier General Leela Gray retired from 30 years in the Army. She had served as Deputy Commanding General of the Army Central Command. For those of us who have to look up what that means, CENTCOM manages land operations, security cooperation, and coalition forces for the 20 or so countries in Northeast Africa, Central/South Asia, and the Middle East. Iran would be one of those countries.
If the people of Florida 13 would like to be represented by someone who knows what she is talking about when military tactics or strategy requires attention. Leela Gray would be a great candidate. If the people of Florida 13 would like to be represented by someone who knows what she is talking about regarding legislation that affects the military, Leela Gray would be a great candidate.
Leela Gray has other areas of expertise. As Deputy Director of the State Department’s Global Engagement Center, she oversaw the development of Cyber/information Warfare in ways that our partner nations appreciate and have adopted. As the former Chief of Legislative Affairs for the US Army Reserve, she knows her way around Congress.
After Leela Gray’s retirement, she continued for almost two years as a Strategic Advisor to the US Army Cyber Command. She has served on boards that varied from Connect M Technology Solutions to Elanah.AI which developed approaches to assisting veterans and their families who needed mental wellness support.
The incumbent Anna Paulina Luna’s convoluted and, to some degree, falsified personal history could be compared to two other Members of Congress: George Santos who was expelled from Congress in 2023 and Andy Ogles of Tennessee 05. Ogles’ opponent is Chaz Molder. See Len’s Political Note #799. And DONATE to Chaz Molder’s campaign.
Anna Paulina Luna was born and raised in California. Her mother, Monica Todd, was mostly at home. Her father, George Mayerhofer was part Mexican-American, part German. His father was in Hitler’s Wehrmacht – drafted, Anna Paulina Luna and her mother explain.
In the United States after immigrating to Canada, her story about her father is unclear. Perhaps, her father raised her as a Messianic Jew (Jews who accept Jesus Christ) or perhaps he converted to Messianic Judaism years later when he was in Florida or, perhaps, neither story is accurate. Cousins and others remember George Mayerhofer as Catholic, which is how he described himself when he entered Canada.
George Mayerhofer never did marry Monica Todd. She married another man, lived in various places in California and elsewhere on the West Coast. Anna Paulina Luna described Santa Monica as her home town. She went to high school in Los Angeles. Her mother’s husband may have been a drug addict or he may have been a drunk or, perhaps, neither story is accurate. Monica and Anna Paulina claim he was in and out of jail, including a year for a drug-related offense. A Washington Post article found no record of his having been incarcerated
Anna Paulina Luna tells the world that she grew up relying on the welfare system, that her mother had no support system, that Monica’s mother was a drug addict who died of an overdose or from AIDS. A cousin differs. The cousin says the whole family provided Anna Paulina Luna with whatever her mother could not, that Anna Paulina Luna was regularly at family gatherings.
Anna Paulina Luna completed a college degree, getting a BA from the University of West Florida in biology in 2017. She had had thoughts of becoming a doctor, but instead joined the army. Married to a fellow soldier, Andy Gomberzky, together they earned a decent living. She did not take his name.
She and her mother had changed their last names to Luna together. Anna Paulina explains that this was to emphasize their bond and her mother’s Hispanic roots. Those who remember Ana Paulina Luda from the army do not think of her particularly as having Hispanic roots. They remember her as stylishly dressed and working as a cocktail waitress at a strip club to earn extra money.
While in the military, she became political. She was critical of illegal immigration because, she said, it led to trafficking of children for labor and/or for sex. She became committed to the second amendment and took to wearing a rifle-shaped pin to show that support. She became convinced the 2020 election was stolen.
In 2022, she ran for Congress, for Florida 13, and won the Republican five candidate primary with 44% of the vote. She won the general election, defeating the Democratic candidate 53-41.
In Congress, Anna Paulina Luna became part of the right-wing community. She attended a celebration and viewing of the film, 2000 Mules, that claimed the 2020 election was stolen. With her husband, she wrote a children’s book with a similar theme. She opposed abortion, calling herself a pro-life extremist. She proposed banning the export of oil as a way to lower the cost of gasoline in the US. She joined the group that removed Kevin McCarthy as Speaker and eventually installed Michael Johnson.
During her three plus years in Congress, she has sought to impeach Democratic Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and the US Attorney for DC Matthew Graves. She sought to censure Congressman (now Senator) Adam Schiff and to have Merrick Garland found in inherent contempt of Congress.
She urged the House to expunge the impeachments of Donald Trump and proposed to add Trump’s likeness to Mount Rushmore. She had a falling out with members of the Freedom Caucus over her proposal to allow proxy voting in Congress for new parents. Her proposal was never voted on, but Speaker Johnson agreed to allow vote pairing.
Luna extended her criticisms beyond Congress. She denounced the Anti-Defamation League for listing Christian identity nationalism as extremist, supported a theory that the shooter at Brown University was a Palestinian, and hosted a delegation of Russian lawmakers in a tour of the Capitol. She sought the release of documents she believed would demonstrate Russian responsibility for the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Speaking at Charlie Kirk’s memorial, she credited Kirk with encouraging her to run for Congress.
She still identifies as a Messianic Jew, is still married to Andrew Gamberzky, and told Joe Rogan that “Congress has seen proof of “interdimensional beings.”
It would be more than a relief to replace Anna Paulina Luna in Congress with a thoughtful adult. Leela Gray has the capacity to be a leader in Congress that everyone would respect.
There are no polls for this race. The Cook Political Report projects the district as Likely Republican and sees the district as leaning Republican by 5 points. During 2025 and 2026, in special elections, Democrats have overperformed 2024 results by 10 to close to 20 points. If Leela Gray can sustain that kind of overperformance, she will be elected. Anna Paulina Luna won by 8 points in 2022, 9+ points in 2024. Trump carried the district by 11.
DONATE to Leela Gray’s campaign. Your donation; your voluntary efforts on her behalf could make the difference. She needs your help. Anna Paulina Luna ended 2025 with $1.1 million to put towards getting herself elected. Leela Gray has only recently announced. She will almost certainly win the Democratic primary, but that is not until August 18. She needs your help now.
Other Florida races to consider.
- It is possible that Florida will redistrict – changing the Congressional match ups. The special session for redistricting is scheduled for April 20 through April 24. We should watch to see what happens.
Governor: Former Republican Congressman David Jolly is beginning to build a lead in the polls for the Democratic nomination against County Mayor Jerry Demings. What’s more David Jolly, though trailing Republican Congressman Byron Donalds by 5 points in a recent poll for the general election is doing 4 points better than Jerry Demings did in a poll measuring him against Byron Donalds. In the money race, Congressman Donalds reported $40 million on January 1 compared to David Jolly’s $3 million and Jerry Demings lack of a report. DONATE to David Jolly or DONATE to Jerry Demings or wait until we can be confident who the nominee will be.
Attorney General: State Senator Jose Javier Rodriguez will be the Democratic nominee. A recent poll he funded showed him trailing the appointed Republican incumbent James Uthmeier by a 35 to 38 margin. Jose Javier Rodriguez graduated from Brown and Harvard Law School. He has served in the Peace Corp s and has been in the state legislature since 2012. James Uthmeier can be credited with thinking up Alligator Alcatraz. DONATE to Jose Javier Rodriguez. Let’s flip this Florida office. See Len’s Political Note #736
US Senate: To say that Alex Vindman is a retired Army Lt. Colonel understates his importance in American history. His whistleblower report led to Donald Trump’s first impeachment for attempting to blackmail the Ukraine President into opening an investigation of Hunter Biden for corrupt activity there. March and April polls show Alex Vindman trailing the appointed incumbent Republican Ashley Moody by an average of 5 points. She reported, in the last quarter of 2025, that she ended the year with $5.1 million cash on hand. Alex Vindman did not announce his candidacy until the end of January, 2026 but has announced first quarter of 2026 fundraising of $8.2 million with $6.2 million cash on hand. The 2024 Florida US Senate election was won by the incumbent Republican by 13 points, a common Democratic overperformance in 2025 and 2026 special elections. Alex Vindman could win this election if he raises enough money to compete. DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #791
Congressional races
Florida 06 Probable Democratic nominee, former school board member, and activist opponent of the extremists Moms for Liberty Jennifer Jenkins is seeking to oust the execrable first term Congressman Randy Fine. Fine identifies himself as Islamophobic and would expel all Muslims from the United States.
Randy Fine ended 2025 with $600,000 having already spent nearly $3 million on his campaign. The Cook Political Report sees the district as solidly Republican with a +14 lean. Fine was elected in a special election by 14 points. His predecessor was elected by 33 points. People discussing overperformances have generally compared 2026 to the 2024 presidential election for a district. An overperformance of 14 points could elect Jennifer Jenkins. If you want to help her achieve that kind of overperformance, DONATE to Jennifer Jenkins.
Florida 07. The Democratic front runner is a former Navy helicopter pilot in Afghanistan and Iraq and the former NASA Administrator’s Chief of Staff Bale Dalton. Bale Dalton is running against a crippled-by-scandal Republican incumbent Cory Mills who, in violation of the law that prohibits federal legislatures from doing business with the government, is accused of obtaining nearly one million dollars worth of contracts with the government for his arms export business. Although Mills denies the charges, he refuses to cooperate with the Ethics Committee and has turned over no tax or financial records.
Bale Dalton began 2026 with $300,000 COH, not a lot, but Mills had only $100,000. Mills has primary opponents, but none of them have raised much money. Cook rates the District solidly Republican, with a +5 Republican lean. Trump carried the district in 2024 by 13 points as did Mills. The combination of scandal, Democratic overperformance, and Mills’ lack of resources should make an investment in Bale Dalton something worth making. DONATE.
Florida 09. Incumbent Democrat Darren Soto is facing a serious challenge from Businessman Thomas Chalifoux who entered 2026 with $2 million compared to Sotos’s $600,000. Chalifoux does not tell us much about policies, but does stress fiscal conservatism. Darren Soto’s four most important issues are infrastructure investments that address Florida’s needs and create jobs and improve the economy, protection of social security, access to quality health care without driving people into bankruptcy, and protection of women’s reproductive rights and women’s health services.
In 2024, Kamala Harris carried FL 09 by 3 points and Darren Soto defeated his probable 20926 opponent Thomas Chalifoux by nearly 13 points. Darren Soto should be reelected even if he is outspent. He needs enough to compete. DONATE. Help him raise enough to fend off this wealthy challenger.
Florida 15. The former State Surgeon for Florida, Darren McAuley describes himself as a third generation combat veteran with 25 years in the Air Force and a veteran of combat in Iraq. He now teaches at the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine and is the leading Democrat to oppose incumbent Republican Member of Congress Laurel Lee. Lee, whose focus has been national security, was elected for a second term in 2024 by 12 points while Trump was carrying the district by 11. Darren McAuley has raised about 15% of Lee’s $1.3 million to start 2026. With more resources and a Blue Wave, he is in a position to challenge the incumbent he has accused of serving corporate interests and cutting health care and FEMA, crucial to this Tampa based district. DONATE to Darren McAuley’s campaign. An African American in a 51% white district, he can compete here.
Florida 23 Jared Moskowitz keeps winning despite warnings of his vulnerability. He is a graduate of Marjory Stoneham Douglas High school, the site of one of the most remembered school shootings. In the state legislature, the shooting dominated his tenure. Appointed by DeSantis, his service as Director of Emergency Management won rave reviews.
In 2022 and 2024, Jared Moskowitz was elected with a 5 point majority, In 2022, DeSantis carried the district by a point. In 2024, Harris carried the district by 2 points. Jared Moskowitz ended 2025 with $1 million cash on hand. Two Republicans ended the year with just under a half million and one had $200,000. Supporters of Jared Moskowitz should be confident, but not too confident. DONATE. Give him a reason for confidence.
Florida 27 About a week after he entered the race for the Democratic nomination in March, 2026, former Miami CBS TV Anchor Elliott Rodriguez was a 27 point leader in a poll and, with that lead, the front runner for the Democratic nomination. A familiar name and face to the people of Florida 27, he can be a real challenge to Republican incumbent Congresswoman Marie Salazar. So can Democratic Prosecutor Robin Peguero. Each of them raised more than $300,000 in the first quarter of 2026 (though Elliott Rodriguez had less than a month to do that). Robin Peguero has raised more than $800,000 during the campaign.
Incumbent Republican Marie Salazar was a journalist for CNN Espanol and Univision before running for Congress in 2020. She won by 15 points in 2022 and by 21 points in 2024. In 2024, Trump carried the district by 15 points. This will be difficult for either Elliott Rodriguez (DONATE) or Robin Peguero (DONATE). And they will have to catch up. Salazar ended 2025 with $1.7 million cash on hand.
Florida 28 Democrats were excited when Hector Mujica announced he was dropping out of the Senate race to run for Congress in Florida 28. Even more than in Florida 27, he will need to count on a return of Hispanics to the Democratic Party from 2024 when Trump carried Florida 28 by 25 points and the Incumbent Republican, former mayor of Miami-Dade County Carlos Gimenez won by 29.
I won’t say it can’t happen. Hector Mujica comes with a portfolio. A Venezuelan refugee, he was head of Google’s Economic Opportunity Americas. In that role, he oversaw more than $100 million in grants intended to create digital economy jobs. The political issues will be more challenging than the financial ones. Gimenez ended 2025 with $600,000. Hector Mujica can catch Gimenez financially. Help him do that. DONATE. Can he catch him politically? The politics of South Florida reaching down into the Keys are different from politics in the rest of the country.
