After four years representing House District 60 in Tallahassee, Rep. Lindsay Cross has announced she will not seek reelection, opening a seat that covers portions of St. Petersburg, Pinellas Park and Lealman.
Cross simultaneously endorsed St. Petersburg attorney Lindsay Polega-Quigley (LPG) as her preferred successor.
In announcing her campaign, Polega-Quigley framed her candidacy around affordability, insurance costs, housing and environmental issues, arguing that many Florida families are struggling to keep pace with rising expenses.
“I’m running for the Florida House because too many Pinellas families are working harder than ever and still falling behind,” Polega-Quigley said in a prepared statement. “The cost of housing, insurance, healthcare, childcare, education and everyday necessities continues to rise while politicians in Tallahassee put special interests and culture war distractions ahead of the people they serve.”
A Stetson Law graduate, Polega-Quigley works at the intersection of construction, insurance and legal disputes, a background she says provides firsthand experience with issues affecting homeowners, contractors and businesses across Florida.
Cross said she believes those experiences position Polega-Quigley well to continue representing the district.
“I believe that Lindsay Polega-Quigley has the values that align with the district and will fight for the people and businesses here,” Cross told the Catalyst. “She is smart, compassionate and an extremely hard worker.”
The endorsement signals an effort to maintain continuity in a district where Cross built much of her legislative profile around environmental protection, resiliency and water quality issues.
Since first winning election in 2022, Cross has emerged as one of the Legislature’s most vocal advocates on flooding, storm preparedness and coastal resiliency. She successfully secured state funding for projects throughout Pinellas County, including flood mitigation efforts in Shore Acres and other vulnerable communities facing increasing storm impacts.
As she prepares to leave office, Cross said many of the same issues remain among the district’s most pressing challenges.
“Addressing affordability and resilience are top issues for this district and I hope she can build on some of the work we’ve done in the past few years,” Cross said.
Those themes are already mirrored in Polega-Quigley’s campaign. Cross said her successor’s legal and insurance background could prove particularly valuable as Florida continues grappling with housing affordability and rising insurance premiums.
“I know that LPQ will dig into the environmental issues that I’ve championed, but she also has a strong legal background,” Cross said. “Her expertise battling insurance companies will help address the cost-of-living issues facing so many Pinellas families; not just lowering the cost of home insurance, but the gas and groceries that have hit all our wallets.”
Cross did not elaborate publicly on her decision not to seek another term. “I have loved serving District 60 and am also excited to make an impact in other ways,” she said.
The outgoing representative expressed confidence that the district will remain well represented after her departure.
“I know she’ll be a champion for us in Tallahassee, and I’m glad she’ll be our state representative,” Cross said. “I look forward to seeing her make her mark.”
House District 60 includes portions of St. Petersburg, Pinellas Park and Lealman. Additional candidates could still enter the race before the qualifying period concludes.