Republican incumbent Anna Paulina Luna won her District 13 seat in a closely contested race against Democratic newcomer Whitney Fox.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Luna got 55% of the vote, while Fox got 45%. The Associated Press declared Luna the winner at 7:46 p.m.

The Democratic Party hoped that winning the seat could help them regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. The race was the only one in Florida that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee included in its “Red to Blue” program.

Fox ran as a moderate in the Republican-leaning district and previously served as communications director for the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority.

A recent poll had shown Luna and Fox tied.

Luna took the stage at the Pinellas Republican Party’s viewing party at the Marriott Hotel in St. Petersburg shortly after the race was called.

“Thank you for trusting me to do the right thing,” Luna said to the room full of people.

Speaking to reporters later, Luna said that if Donald Trump wins the presidency, his first priority in office would be securing the border.

Luna was endorsed by Donald Trump and aligned as his supporter during his first term in Congress. She appeared at Trump’s trial in New York and introduced a bill to award him the Congressional Gold Medal, although that bill died in session.

The Republican newcomer gained national attention for her conservative views. He was part of a group of Republican lawmakers who opposed former U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s run for House Speaker. He also presented a bill

Luna had refused to say how she would vote in Florida’s abortion referendum, although she has described herself as “pro-life” in the past.

He has spoken out against illegal immigration and his campaign says he will “fight to finish the border wall, end DACA, restore President Trump’s Remain in Mexico policy, and crack down on illegal criminals in the United States.”

Before Luna took the seat in 2022, District 13 was represented by Democrat Charlie Crist, who resigned his seat to run for governor.

The Republican-led legislature redrawn the district in favor of the GOP in 2022. The new map removed more Democratic areas in St. Petersburg and added them to the district represented by Tampa Democrat Kathy Castor. The district includes much of Pinellas County west of US 19 and Interstate 275.

Castor easily won his re-election bid in the 14th Congressional District. He has represented the district since 2006. He defeated Republican Robert “Rocky” Rochford, a retired U.S. Navy captain, by 54% to 44%, with 88% of precincts reporting.

Pinellas County residents also voted to increase a school tax that has been in place since 2004. With 98% of precincts reporting, voters approved the referendum by a margin of 68% to 32%. The increase will raise the rate from $0.5 million to $1 million, meaning homeowners will pay $1 for every $1,000 of assessed value. )

Click here to view Pinellas election results

School referendum

Yes – 68%
No—32%

state senate

District 21
Hooper, Ed (REP) * Owner – 61.82%
Carroll, Doris H. (DEM) – 38.18%

State House

District 57
Anderson, Adam C. (REP) * Owner – 58.83%
Johnson, Kelly Lynn (DEM) – 38.62%
Larrivee, Robert “Bob” Arthur (NPA) – 2.55%

District 58
Berfield, Kimberly “Kim” (REP) * Owner – 57.66%
Beckman, Bryan (DEM) – 42.34%

District 59
Jacques, Berny (REP) * Owner – 58.68%
Douglas, dawn (DEM) – 41.32%

District 60
Cross, Lindsay (DEM) * Owner – 46.36%
Montanari, Ed (REP): 53.64%

District 61
Chaney, Linda (REP) * Owner – 56.24%
Bruemmer, Nathan (DEM) – 43.76%

District 62
Rayner, Michele K. (DEM) * Owner – 31.34%
Amador, Nelson (REP) – 68.66%