Trump-Backed House Republican Leading In Florida Race: Poll
Democrats are using what levers of power and influence they have, even as the national party is heavily in debt, to flip enough House seats in the fall midterms to retake control of the chamber.
One of the seats Democrats hoped to flip is in the red state of Florida, but new polling shows the party’s hopes are more of a pipe dream.
MAGA favorite Rep. Anna Paulina Luna holds an 8-point advantage over her likely Democratic challenger, Leela Gray, according to new internal polling released this week by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates.
The survey found that 49% of respondents said they would support Luna if the election for Florida’s 13th Congressional District were held today, compared with 41% who said they would vote for Gray.
Luna’s lead widened when voters were asked whether they were certain to support their preferred candidate. In that category, 43% said they would definitely vote for Luna, while 34% said they would definitely back Gray, giving the incumbent a 9-point advantage.
Political analysts often view voter-certainty measurements as a stronger indicator of electoral support than a standard ballot test because they attempt to distinguish committed voters from those who remain open to changing their minds, Florida Politics reported.
The poll also found that just 10% of respondents remained undecided, suggesting there may be limited room for either candidate to significantly expand support before Election Day.
Luna was first elected to represent Florida’s 13th Congressional District in 2022.
She is now seeking her second re-election victory.
Democrats are hoping to capitalize on a political environment that has historically favored the party out of power during midterm elections.
But Gray faces an uphill battle in Florida’s 13th Congressional District following changes made during mid-decade redistricting, the outlet reported.
The revised congressional map removed southern Pinellas County from the district, including heavily Democratic areas in St. Petersburg.
The new boundaries also added some Democratic voters who had previously been part of Florida’s 14th Congressional District.
Even before the redistricting changes, Luna won re-election in 2024 by nearly 10 percentage points against a Democratic challenger who, like Gray, received significant support from national Democratic organizations.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has identified Luna’s seat as one of its key targets in its effort to regain control of the House in 2026, Florida Politics noted further.
Florida’s 13th Congressional District is one of four Florida seats included in the committee’s strategy, alongside districts currently represented by Reps. Cory Mills and Gus Bilirakis, as well as the open race in Florida’s 16th Congressional District.
The latest internal poll showing Luna with an 8-point advantage over Gray contrasts with an earlier survey conducted by GQR, which found the Republican incumbent leading by a narrower 47% to 44% margin, said the outlet.
Gray must first secure her party’s nomination in Tuesday’s primary election, however, where she faces two other Democratic candidates.
She enters the contest as the clear front-runner, having raised more than $1.2 million during the campaign. Financial disclosures show that she still has roughly $683,000 in cash on hand, far outpacing the other Democratic candidates in the race, notes Florida Politics.
Gray has also assembled a broad network of support from prominent Democratic leaders.
Her endorsements include former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Mark Kelly and Reps. Kathy Castor, Lois Frankel, Jason Crow, Pat Ryan and Ted Lieu.
She has also received backing from former Rep. Jim Davis, former state Rep. Ben Diamond and former Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink.
Several influential organizations have also endorsed Gray, including EMILY’s List, VoteVets, the Florida AFL-CIO and the West Central Florida Labor Council.
For her part, Luna has been a big supporter of the SAVE America Act, which would place nationwide mandates on federal elections including having to show a voter ID and proof of citizenship.
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
Shocking 'truth' behind Prince Harry's decision to quit major role
Prince Harry should have "resigned in disgrace" from the board of a controversial African wildlife charity, a commentator says. James Walker makes the bombshell remark in Wednesday's episode of this publication's podcast, Daily Expresso.
He and the show's host, JJ Anisiobi, delve into the Duke of Sussex's dramatic decision to step down from African Parks. James, commenting on the controversy, said: "When you hear about this stuff and how long it's been going on for, you should be resigning in disgrace. [Harry] should be saying: 'I'm not touching that with a barge pole. That is a failed entity. We're going nowhere near it'.
"But no. He's still saying he's going to 'support their mission'. And again this Caroline Pearce, executive director of Survival International, goes on to say: 'His departure doesn't undo that record'.
"She alleged that African Parks was aware of the abuses for years, but it was only after Survival complained to Harry that the charity finally commissioned an investigation."
James added: "Well, she's got a point."
It emerged on Monday (August 24) that Harry was no longer a board member of the wildlife charity.
The conservation organisation has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers against members of the semi-nomadic Baka group in Congo-Brazzaville.
African Parks has said since that it has improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Its admission followed an independent human rights investigation into allegations guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
Harry was president of the charity for six years before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.
A spokesman for the Duke said he remains an active and avid supporter of African Parks. He added: "The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.
"His commitment to conservation in Africa continues and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission."
Human rights organisation, Survival International, said it had been calling on Harry to step down from African Parks for years.
The group's director, Caroline Pearce, said in a statement: "It’s outrageous that for 10 years Prince Harry has served African Parks while the organisation has been responsible for abuse and violence against Indigenous people.
"His departure doesn't undo that record — African Parks itself must now be held accountable, and must abandon this model of fortress conservation for good."
Survival International said indigenous peoples know how best to manage their land and the idea outsiders know better is racist and colonial.
