Anna Paulina Luna tries to flip Charlie Crist’s former district pink

Republican congressional candidate Anna Paulina Luna is searching for to flip Florida’s thirteenth Congressional District pink after its former Rep. Charlie Crist (D-FL) vacated the seat to run for governor.

Luna, a businesswoman and veteran who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, ran unsuccessfully two years in the past in opposition to Crist for the seat, however the district has since been redrawn within the state’s current redistricting course of, seemingly leaving her in a greater place to win this time round. The nonpartisan Cook dinner Political Report has ranked the district “seemingly Republican.”

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This time, Eric Lynn, a former Pentagon official, is her rival within the November common election.

Luna is a part of a gaggle of candidates the Home Republicans' congressional marketing campaign arm says is a document variety of Hispanic candidates this cycle. She informed the Washington Examiner throughout an interview in Washington this week that she first acquired concerned in politics working in countertrafficking efforts.

“I used to be actually concerned in what was taking place on the border — I noticed that it was shortly changing into a partisan one when it must be a extra humanitarian focus. However I additionally realized that my platforms and my positions had been being heard and revered within the Republican Occasion,” she mentioned.

Luna mentioned a humanitarian response to unlawful immigration ought to embrace countertrafficking efforts, as human trafficking victims could be introduced into america below false pretenses to be exploited.

“Not like medicine, human beings could be consumed time and time once more,” she mentioned, including, “We take satisfaction in the truth that we're a rustic freed from slavery, but it is taking place beneath our noses.”

Nevertheless it isn’t solely points tied to immigration main some Hispanic voters to contemplate Republicans, Luna argued, citing training and the economic system.

“I am a second-generation American [whose family] got here right here in quest of the American dream, and we're more and more seeing that below assault below this administration, and so, I believe that is pushing individuals to focus extra on what politicians and legislators are doing right here in D.C.”

Requested how she plans to flip the district, Luna mentioned, “Door-knocking and making direct voter contact.”

Acknowledging that the district has grow to be friendlier to Republicans, Luna mentioned her plan revolves round “grassroots engagement.”

“This previous main, we knocked on over 14,000 doorways, revamped 40,000 cellphone calls,” she mentioned. “And that was with my rapid workforce, not different individuals. And so, what we had been in a position to do was actually get on the market and meet voters, and that is actually the technique.”

Luna mentioned if a candidate exhibits voters “that you simply're caring about what they're wanting, to signify that, you will struggle for them in D.C., I believe that that resonates.”

“Frankly, a whole lot of them are shocked once I present as much as the door asking for his or her vote, and I plan on doing it this November,” she mentioned.