Biography
Leela Gray is the Democratic nominee in Florida's 13th Congressional District. A retired U.S. Army Brigadier General with 30 years of service, she is also a lawyer; she won the August 18, 2026 Democratic primary with 65.1% of the vote. She is running on affordability, government ethics, and support for veterans and seniors.[1][2]
Gray says her family relied on food stamps while she was growing up and that she worked two jobs to pay for college.[1] She earned a bachelor's degree from Elon University, a graduate degree from the U.S. Army War College, and a law degree from the Stetson University College of Law.[1] She served in the U.S. Army from 1988 to 2018, rising to the rank of Brigadier General.[1]
According to an EMILYs List endorsement release, Gray's Army career included commanding troops, a peacekeeping mission, and two combat deployments. After active duty she worked at the State Department as a strategic advisor to U.S. Army Cyber Command.[3] The same release describes her as a longtime Tampa Bay resident who has mentored entrepreneurs and advocated for veterans.[3] Gray defeated Brandt Robinson and John Liccione in the August 18, 2026 Democratic primary for Florida's 13th District.[1]
- 1.Leela Gray · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
- 2.Florida's 13th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
- 3.EMILYs List Endorses Retired Brigadier General Leela Gray for Florida's 13th Congressional District · EMILYs List Reference
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.
