Indivisible North Pinellas met on May 5, 2026 at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Dunedin. Here’s what we covered and what’s coming next.
Meeting Summary
Indivisible North Pinellas hosted a candidate forum for Florida’s 13th Congressional District. Four candidates appeared in person, a fifth joined by pre-recorded video, and the evening covered five primary questions plus one audience-driven bonus. Below is a structured recap by speaker and topic, followed by action items and how you can plug in.
Opening Remarks
The chair opened with a direct appeal to turnout. Key points she made:
- Pinellas Republican turnout last cycle was roughly 72 percent, compared with about 67 percent for Democrats. Statewide, the gap was even tighter.
- Winning CD-13 requires raising Democratic and independent turnout into the 80 to 90 percent range.
- Volunteers are needed across every function: canvassing, phone banking, postcards, driving canvassers, and digital outreach.
The Candidates
The Democratic primary for CD-13 is August 18, 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. The candidates featured at this forum were:
- Leela Gray, retired U.S. Army Brigadier General, appeared via pre-recorded video. Reported $560,000 raised in her first 56 days, with $500,000 cash on hand at quarter close. Endorsed by EMILY’s List, VoteVets, Veterans for Responsible Leadership, and Rep. Kathy Castor.
- John Liccione, U.S. Air Force veteran and former NSA/Air Force intelligence officer. Announced at the forum that he had filed an emergency lawsuit that day against Gov. Ron DeSantis, Secretary of State Cord Byrd, and Pinellas Supervisor of Elections Julie Marcus over the new congressional map.
- Brandt Robinson, 29-year Pinellas County history teacher and longtime union leader. Recognized by the Florida Education Association with its Human and Civil Rights Leadership Award. Organized the protest outside the first national Moms for Liberty convention in 2022.
- Karla Kemp, licensed insurance agent and sustainability professional. Indivisible member since 2015, when she organized against then-Gov. Kristi Noem and Sen. John Thune in South Dakota before relocating to Florida.
- Earle Ford, U.S. Army Airborne Infantry veteran and attorney. Former state prosecutor, former ACLU attorney, former counsel at the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Regional Counsel, and former IRS estate tax specialist. Top-fundraising non-Gray Democrat in the field heading into the forum.
A note on spelling: the candidates’ names appear in the transcript as “Lichioni,” “Carla,” “Earl,” and “Leila” in various places. The correct spellings are Liccione (pronounced lichioni), Karla, Earle, and Leela.
Question 1: If you win the primary, what is your plan to beat Anna Paulina Luna?
- Liccione: Declined to compete on fundraising. Plans to make Luna’s refusal to sign the discharge petition forcing a House vote on the Epstein files the central issue of the general election. Framed Luna as protected by the new district lines, which is a core argument in his redistricting lawsuit.
- Robinson: Will run a grassroots campaign that refuses PAC and corporate money. Cited the 400-person empty-chair town hall Indivisible North Pinellas held last year as evidence of organic district demand. Committed to monthly in-district town halls if elected, with paper and digital recaps sent to all constituents.
- Kemp: Argued the case for Luna’s removal rests on her attendance record (Luna has reportedly missed roughly one in eight votes) and her acceptance of outside money. Also committed to regular online constituent updates.
- Ford: Described his strategy as “bottom up.” Argued that large fundraising hauls primarily fund television ads that keep candidates physically separated from voters. Plans to focus on in-person organizing, particularly with younger voters of color who disengaged in 2024.
Watch the Recording
Photos from the Meeting
Action Items
- Confirm your registration and request a vote-by-mail ballot through the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections. Mail ballot requests must be renewed for the 2026 cycle.
- Mark your calendar for the primary on August 18, 2026 and the general on November 3, 2026.
- Research the candidates directly through their campaign sites: Leela Gray, John Liccione, Brandt Robinson, and Earle Ford. Karla Kemp does not yet have a published campaign site at the time of writing; updates will be posted as they become available.
- Pick a candidate to volunteer with, or volunteer with more than one. Every campaign needs canvassers, phone bankers, postcard writers, and drivers.
- Attend the next Indivisible North Pinellas meeting and bring at least one new person who has not yet engaged.
- Donate to Indivisible North Pinellas if you cannot give time. The organization runs entirely on member donations.
- Talk to neighbors and family members, including moderate Republicans and unaffiliated voters. Multiple candidates noted that voters across party lines are actively reconsidering their alignment.
- Subscribe to candidate updates so you are tracking their schedules, town halls, and policy releases as they happen.
Next Meeting
Our next meeting is June 2, 2026 at 6:00 PM at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1120 Curlew Road, Dunedin. In-person and Zoom available.
