Anna Paulina Luna

Anna Paulina Luna
Official portrait, 2022
Anna Paulina Luna
Born	Anna Paulina Mayerhofer 6 5, 1989
Birthplace	Santa Ana, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, U.S. Representative
Known for	First Mexican-American woman elected to Congress from Florida
Education	University of West Florida (BS)
Spouse(s)	Andrew Gamberzky
Children	1
Awards	Air Force Achievement Medal
Website	[[luna.house.gov luna.house.gov] Official site]

Anna Paulina Luna (née Mayerhofer; born May 6, 1989) is an American politician and United States Air Force veteran serving as the U.S. representative for Florida's 13th congressional district since January 3, 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Luna is the first Mexican-American woman elected to Congress from the state of Florida. Before entering politics, Luna served as an airfield management specialist in the Air National Guard from 2009 to 2014, earning the Air Force Achievement Medal for her service. She first ran for Congress in 2020, losing to incumbent Democratic congressman Charlie Crist, before winning the seat in the 2022 election cycle with the endorsement of former president Donald Trump. During her tenure in Congress, Luna has served on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, establishing a conservative voting record and becoming a prominent voice within the House Freedom Caucus.

Early Life

Anna Paulina Mayerhofer was born on May 6, 1989, in Santa Ana, California. Luna has described a difficult upbringing marked by economic hardship. Her background and personal history became subjects of public scrutiny and media investigation during her political career.

The Tampa Bay Times published an extensive profile of Luna in October 2020 during her first congressional campaign, documenting what the newspaper described as "the evolution of Anna Paulina Luna." Luna has spoken publicly about her Mexican-American heritage and has identified her background as formative in shaping her political outlook. The Washington Post later conducted its own investigation into Luna's biographical claims in February 2023, examining aspects of the personal narrative she presented during her campaigns and early tenure in Congress.

Luna's account of her early years and family background has been a recurring topic in media coverage. In an interview with Florida Politics, Luna addressed questions about her personal history and political evolution, characterizing some of the scrutiny as part of "a tough conversation."

Luna's identity as a Mexican-American woman has been central to her public profile, and her election to Congress in 2022 made her a historic figure in Florida politics as the first Mexican-American woman to represent the state in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Education

Luna attended the University of West Florida, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 2017. She pursued her undergraduate education after completing her military service in the Air National Guard, which had concluded in 2014. The University of West Florida, located in Pensacola, Florida, is a public university within the State University System of Florida.

Career

Military Service

Luna enlisted in the Oregon Air National Guard at age 19, serving as an airfield management specialist from 2009 to 2014. In this role, she was responsible for duties related to the management and operations of military airfields. For her service, Luna was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal, a decoration recognizing meritorious service or outstanding achievement in a military capacity.

Luna has frequently cited her military experience as foundational to her political career and public service. Her time in the Air National Guard preceded her completion of a college degree and her entry into the political arena.

2020 Congressional Campaign

Luna's first bid for public office came in 2020, when she challenged incumbent Democratic congressman Charlie Crist in Florida's 13th congressional district. The district, which encompasses portions of Pinellas County including St. Petersburg and surrounding communities, had been represented by Crist since 2017.

The Tampa Bay Times profiled Luna extensively during the 2020 campaign, documenting her trajectory from military service to political candidacy and exploring her evolving personal and political identity. Luna positioned herself as a conservative challenger in a district that leaned competitive, and she gained attention as a young, photogenic candidate with an active social media presence. Despite generating significant interest, Luna lost the general election to Crist.

2022 Congressional Campaign

Following her defeat in 2020, Luna continued to build her political profile and prepare for a second run at the seat. Her prospects changed significantly when Charlie Crist announced he would leave the congressional seat to run for governor of Florida, leaving the 13th district open.

Luna secured the endorsement of former president Donald Trump during the Republican primary, a significant boost that helped elevate her candidacy above the primary field. Trump hosted a fundraiser for Luna, signaling his strong support for her campaign. The Washington Post characterized Luna as part of a "new class of combative MAGA candidates" who were "poised to roil House GOP" in the 2022 midterm elections.

In the general election, Luna faced Democratic nominee Eric Lynn. The Tampa Bay Times covered the race, noting the competing endorsements and political dynamics at play in the newly redrawn district. Luna won the 2022 general election, flipping the seat for the Republican Party and becoming the first Mexican-American woman elected to Congress from Florida.

The Washington Post also profiled Luna in the context of her social media-savvy approach to politics, noting her significant Instagram following and her alignment with the MAGA movement within the Republican Party.

An analysis by FiveThirtyEight ahead of the 2022 election categorized Luna among candidates who had questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election results and assessed the likelihood of such candidates winning their races.

Congressional Tenure

Luna took office on January 3, 2023, succeeding Charlie Crist as the representative for Florida's 13th congressional district. She was assigned to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, committees that address international relations, diplomacy, and executive branch accountability, respectively.

Luna became a member of the House Freedom Caucus, the conservative caucus within the House Republican Conference. Newsweek included her on its list of Freedom Caucus members following the 2022 midterm elections.

During her first term, Luna established a conservative voting record. She has spoken on issues including oil exports, government spending, and vaccination policy, as documented in a one-on-one interview with Fox 13 News.

A Pew Research Center analysis of the religious composition of the 118th Congress noted Luna's faith background as part of its broader survey of religion on Capitol Hill.

Luna was reelected in the 2024 general election, securing a second term representing Florida's 13th congressional district.

Legislative Priorities and Public Statements

During her congressional career, Luna has been an outspoken advocate for conservative legislative priorities. In early 2026, she threatened to "shut down the floor of the House" if the Senate did not pass the SAVE Act, a piece of legislation she supported.

Luna has also directed criticism at the United States Senate, calling it "very, very corrupt" during a partial government shutdown in early 2026. The Hill reported on her remarks, which came amid tensions between the House and Senate.

In February 2026, Luna publicly criticized the Office of Congressional Ethics, writing in a lengthy post on X (formerly Twitter) that the office "is a joke" and alleging that it "has dirt on members and pays people off." Her remarks drew attention from multiple news outlets.

Luna also drew attention in February 2026 for criticizing fellow Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana after Kennedy mocked Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's prior experience as a bartender following Ocasio-Cortez's appearance at the Munich Security Conference. Luna called Kennedy's remarks "tone deaf," in a notable instance of a Republican member of Congress defending Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent Democrat. The Hill and The Daily Beast both covered Luna's response.

District Operations

Luna maintains a congressional office and district operations serving constituents in Pinellas County. In February 2026, the Tampa Bay Times reported that Luna's district director had joined the race for Clearwater City Council, reflecting the connections between her congressional operation and local politics in the region.

Personal Life

Luna is married to Andrew Gamberzky. The couple has one child. Luna has spoken publicly about her personal life in various interviews and media appearances, though she has also expressed frustration with what she has characterized as intrusive scrutiny of her background and personal history.

Luna identifies as Mexican-American and has discussed the role of her heritage in her public life. Her religious faith has also been noted in analyses of the composition of Congress; the Pew Research Center included her in its 2023 survey of faith backgrounds among members of the 118th Congress.

Before entering politics, Luna gained some public visibility through her social media presence, which the Washington Post highlighted as a notable aspect of her profile as a congressional candidate and member of Congress.

Recognition

During her military service in the Air National Guard, Luna received the Air Force Achievement Medal, a U.S. military decoration awarded for meritorious service or outstanding achievement.

Luna's election to Congress in 2022 was recognized as historic, as she became the first Mexican-American woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the state of Florida. Her victory was part of broader trends in the 2022 midterm elections that saw increased diversity among Republican members of Congress.

Luna received the endorsement of former president Donald Trump during her 2022 Republican primary campaign, which was considered one of the most significant endorsements in that election cycle for Florida congressional races.

Her membership in the House Freedom Caucus and her conservative voting record have positioned her as a notable figure within the Republican Party's right flank in the House of Representatives.

Legacy

As of 2026, Luna is serving in her second term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Her status as the first Mexican-American woman elected to Congress from Florida represents a milestone in the political representation of Hispanic Americans in the state's congressional delegation.

Luna's political career has been characterized by her alignment with the populist conservative wing of the Republican Party and her willingness to publicly challenge both Democratic opponents and, at times, members of her own party. Her criticism of Senator John Kennedy in defense of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in February 2026 demonstrated a willingness to break from partisan expectations on occasion.

Her approach to politics, combining an active social media presence with combative rhetoric and conservative policy positions, has been noted by multiple national outlets as representative of a broader shift within the Republican Party toward a younger, more media-savvy generation of elected officials.

Luna's trajectory — from military service to a failed first congressional campaign to a successful second bid with presidential endorsement — has been documented as an example of the pathways through which candidates aligned with the MAGA movement have entered and influenced the U.S. Congress in the 2020s.