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Representative in Congress, District 13

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Representative in Congress, District 13

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Leela Gray

Leela Gray is an American attorney, retired military officer, and politician running for the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Florida's 13th Congressional District. Gray is a retired U.S. Army Brigadier General who served 30 years in uniform, including two combat deployments and a peacekeeping mission, retiring in 2018 as Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Central.

On September 28, 2026, Gray formally unveiled her "Cutting Costs Agenda," positioning pocketbook affordability, national security efficiency, and institutional reform as the pillars of her campaign.

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Position on major issues

Economy, jobs and wages

Supporting Small Businesses and Creating Jobs. When local shops struggle to survive, our entire community feels the impact. We must end illegal tariffs, and cut red tape and regulatory burdens that drain capital from our entrepreneurs so they can grow and stay in Florida’s 13th District

Investing in Our Workforce. Skilled labor is a critical resource in our community, and it’s time we invest in our people. We must ensure the next generation has more than just a paycheck; we must build career paths to success, stability, and wealth for families here at home.

Strengthening the Middle Class. The middle class should be the engine of the American economy, but that motor is stalling under a Congress that defaults to chaos over responsible leadership. We need to widen the path to the middle class and ensure workers and families have more money in their pockets. We must focus on aggressively lowering prices and tackling the insurance crisis head-on. We also must commit to making childcare affordable and homeownership attainable, ensuring the next generation has better opportunities.

Securing the Future for the Next Generation. Many young people today face an uphill battle against soaring housing costs, student debt, and a shifting job market. The next generation needs a fierce advocate, and we need to provide them with the tools and resources to adapt and thrive in a modern economy.

Ban Prediction Market Betting. No one who has a hand in shaping policy decisions should be allowed to profit by betting on the outcome. Whether it's a vote, a policy, or a war, officials with inside knowledge must not be allowed to treat the consequences of their own decisions as an opportunity to cash in.

Elections and voting

Overturn Citizens United. I spent 30 years defending a government of, by, and for the people, not a government for sale to the highest bidder. The consequences of Citizens United have been severe: corporations and billionaires pour unlimited money into our elections, drowning out the voices of everyday Floridians. I will fight for a constitutional amendment to reverse Citizens United and put power back with the people, where it belongs.

Ban Corporate PAC Donations. No elected official should owe their seat to a corporation's checkbook. That is why I will never take a dime of corporate PAC money in this campaign. This should be the standard for every Member of Congress. Citizens, not corporations, should have the final say in choosing our representatives.

Ban Investments in Donor-Owned Companies. If a politician can personally profit by investing in a company owned by one of their own donors, the public has no way of knowing whether their vote was earned or bought. This type of quiet, run-of-the-mill corruption has become standard operating procedure in Washington. And they know it. That is why this type of legislation has never been introduced. When I get elected I will change that.

Disclose Every Lobbyist Meeting. Government accountability starts with knowing who's actually influencing the decisions being made on your behalf. I will introduce legislation requiring Members to disclose all meetings with lobbyists, so Washington operates with transparency.

Environment and climate

Protecting our Beaches, Land, and Coastal Economy Protecting our pristine beaches and threatened waterways are essential to the long-term economic security of Pinellas County and all of Tampa Bay. We must treat our beachfronts, rivers, bays, and waterways with the same discipline we apply to any critical infrastructure. We need to permanently ban offshore drilling and protect all our homes, businesses, and coastal economy.

Families and social services

Protecting Our Children. From a rising mental health crisis to increasing online exploitation and soaring education costs, America’s children face a reality they didn’t create. Our kids need a fierce champion in Congress for their mental health, safety, and suc

Government reform

Anti-Corruption Initiatives: To restore integrity to Washington, Gray supports sweeping ethics overhauls. Her platform includes banning corporate PAC donations entirely and passing strict legislation to ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks while in office.

Ban Buying and Selling Stocks — Move Current Holdings Into a Blind Trust. Government officials sit in briefings, vote on legislation, and shape policies that move markets every single day. Far too many of them are cashing in on that access while the people they represent are left playing catch up. We must ban officials from buying and selling individual stocks while in office — and require every sitting Member to move their existing holdings into a blind trust so no one in Washington ever has the chance to shirk their duties for the benefit of their portfolio.

Congressional Term Limits. Our founding fathers never meant for Congress to be run by career politicians. It is time to fix this. The majority of Americans support term limits for Congress because we all want leaders in Washington focused on delivering results, not winning their next election.

Healthcare

Healthcare Costs and Insurer Consolidation: Her healthcare platform focuses on strengthening the Affordable Care Act (ACA), capping out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, and expanding federal antitrust oversight to crack down on corporate consolidation among health insurance firms, hospital networks, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

Protecting Our Children. From a rising mental health crisis to increasing online exploitation and soaring education costs, America’s children face a reality they didn’t create. Our kids need a fierce champion in Congress for their mental health, safety, and suc

Housing

Tackling Housing and Overdevelopment: To combat South Florida's real estate crisis, Gray advocates for restricting private equity firms and institutional investors from buying up single-family housing stock. Her platform focuses on passing regulations that give local families, municipal governments, and non-profit organizations a baseline priority to purchase available homes.

National security and foreign policy

Stop the Reckless War in Iran. This administration dragged our country into a reckless war of choice with no clear strategic objective or exit strategy, costing the average American household an estimated $1,200. I served 30 years in uniform and I refuse to sit by as service members are put at risk and instability drives up prices at the pump and grocery store. I will fight to end the war and stop working families from paying the price for Washington's disastrous decisions.

Stop the Illegal Tariff Taxes. I am running to put an end to the tariff taxes raising the cost of groceries, building materials and everyday goods, which have piled an estimated $1,700 onto the average family's yearly bills, while small businesses nationwide have been forced to absorb a staggering $200 billion in added costs. Rubber stamps in Congress and the administration are putting a huge burden on hardworking Floridians and small businesses, raising everyday costs.

Social Security and retirement

Protect Medicare and Social Security. Seniors in our district spent a lifetime paying into Medicare and Social Security, and now Washington must keep its promise to them. I will always fight to protect and strengthen both programs so seniors can retire with dignity and families can plan for their futures with confidence.

Taxes and government spending

Tax Code Reforms: Gray supports restructuring the federal tax code so that major corporations and ultra-wealthy individuals pay a proportionate share. Her platform emphasizes balancing the federal budget while protecting vital safety nets, including Social Security, Medicare, and food assistance programs.

Stop the Illegal Tariff Taxes. I am running to put an end to the tariff taxes raising the cost of groceries, building materials and everyday goods, which have piled an estimated $1,700 onto the average family's yearly bills, while small businesses nationwide have been forced to absorb a staggering $200 billion in added costs. Rubber stamps in Congress and the administration are putting a huge burden on hardworking Floridians and small businesses, raising everyday costs.

Technology and privacy

Ban Prediction Market Betting. No one who has a hand in shaping policy decisions should be allowed to profit by betting on the outcome. Whether it's a vote, a policy, or a war, officials with inside knowledge must not be allowed to treat the consequences of their own decisions as an opportunity to cash in.

Veterans

Upholding the Promise to Our Veterans. Our veterans served on the front lines, yet return home to a web of bureaucratic red tape to access their earned benefits. They have earned quality and timely healthcare. We must ensure our veterans cannot only access these benefits, but also have a path to success and stability upon their transition from service.

Securing A Dignified Retirement for Our Seniors. Today, too many seniors face economic strain. We have a duty to honor those who came before us. We must protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare to ensure every senior can age with dignity.

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