While the entire nation gears up for the 2022 midterm election, several races across Florida will be highly contested, particularly in Pinellas County, Florida, where the Republican primary in Congressional District 13 is drawing a lot of national names to jump into the political mix. Just this week, US Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has reiterated his endorsement for Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) and brushed off Amanda Makki (R-FL).
Anna Paulina Luna has many feathers in her cap going into this year's election. Having already been the Republican nominee and barely losing to US Rep. Charlie Crist (R-FL), Republicans are confident that she can lock in the swing district this time around.
Already having the support of former-President Donald Trump (R) and now Rep. Gaetz, Luna should slide right into Crist's empty seat. There is just one issue, her record is spotty compared to primary challenger Amanda Makki.
Makki has a long time loyalty to the Trump campaign, having contributed in the 2020 recount effort, and has fully embraced Trump politics almost since the very beginning. On the other hand, Luna has been attacked by Makki for being a former, "avid Democrat" and two time Obama-Biden voter.
But for Trump and Gaetz, this oddly does not seem to bother them. Gaetz even took to Twitter to call Makki not "the best option here." The Congressman also encouraged other Republicans to join him and the former President in support of Anna Paulina Luna.
Lobbyist Amanda Makki isn’t the best option here.
Though Makki had the entire GOP Leadership in her corner last primary, she lost bigly to the terrific @realannapaulina, who I strongly supported.
Republicans should join me and Trump & back @VoteAPL to flip this seat RED! https://t.co/g23s4t62rt
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) September 18, 2021
This month the Makki campaign reacted swiftly to the news of Trump's endorsement for Luna, calling her a, "clinical phony" and pulling up an edgy quote from her claiming she is, "able to take on different personalities depending on what image I’m going for. I think getting into character of what you are selling is super important."
Since then, Makki has gained the endorsement of Maggie's List, a conservative PAC dedicated to electing conservative women to Congress, and numerous Pinellas County mayors. This race will truly indicate how much power Donald Trump still holds over the GOP.
