The North Pinellas Democratic Club will host a candidate forum for Florida’s 13th Congressional District Thursday (Feb. 19), bringing three Democratic candidates for the same seat into the same room as the primary contest continues to expand.
Scheduled to appear are Leela Gray, Timothy “Brandt” Robinson and Earle Ford – all Democrats running in a race to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, and the top three in terms of campaign finances.
The forum comes as the field in FL-13 has grown unusually large with 10 candidates (eight democrats), potentially diluting Democratic prospects.
Another recently filed candidate, John Fay, rejected the idea that it dilutes the pool and told Poliverse that a broad field can reflect democratic engagement and participation.
That is also what makes the Feb. 19 forum notable: candidates running parallel campaigns in separate corners of the district. The event places them on the same stage, in front of the same voters, answering the same questions – an early opportunity for direct comparison.
Gray, a retired U.S. Army Brigadier General and attorney, entered the race emphasizing her decades of military leadership and public service. She has also received early support from Whitney Fox, the Democrat who ran against Luna in 2024.
Robinson, a longtime history teacher, has framed his candidacy around what he calls a “different kind of representation,” emphasizing constituent engagement and focusing on issues such as health care, housing affordability and Florida’s insurance crisis. Robinson has also been active with Indivisible Pinellas, a local civic group.
Ford has distinguished himself in the field with strong early fundraising. According to Federal Election Commission filings, Ford has raised more than $144,000 and entered 2026 with roughly $84,000 in cash on hand – figures that place him second behind Gray’s $150,000 of self-reported funds.
However, Luna maintains a significant fundraising and cash-on-hand advantage over her challengers with $1.75 million in total contributions.
The event will be held at 917 Louden Ave., Dunedin, FL 34698. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the forum begins at 7.