Rep.-Elect Anna Paulina Luna on Her Big Win

CLAY: We are joined now by Anna Paulina Luna. She is one of the newest members of the Republican congressional group, which, I mean, it’s kind of a stunner. I imagine at some point you’ve got to get used to it. You’ve been a candidate for a long time now. What does it feel like to win? Where are you going to be representing? What happens now?

CONGRESSWOMAN-ELECT LUNA: Well, it’s completely surreal. As you know, we had basically run a four-year-long campaign. But I’m honored. I’m really excited. I can tell you, though, that the work right after the general election, it doesn’t stop. In fact, I’m actually flying out later on today to go to one of my first orientations. So for what people may not know, they actually have Congress school, and so I have to do that over the next couple of weeks. But I’m very excited to say that I will be joining the ranks of Jim Jordan and Scott Perry, Byron Donalds over at the House Freedom Caucus, and so now we kind of get our staffing together. But it’s been very interesting. And, honestly, it just only in America can you really start out, have my story, work hard, and make it to Congress.

BUCK: Anna, it’s Buck, we’re so happy for you, and Clay and I — an election night where there were some definite frustrations — we were psyched to see that things went your way, especially after the Democrats, what did they spend, $7 million against you?

CONGRESSWOMAN-ELECT LUNA: Twelve. So there was a $10 million super PAC that came in and spent all against me. And then my opponent had $2 million cash on hand, so it was a total of 12. And then on the Friday before the election, when I was rallying with Charlie Kirk and DeSantis, Barack Obama dropped (laughs) a robocall against me. So they really were trying to throw everything and the kitchen sink at me.

BUCK: That’s remarkable. I mean, what was it like to be a part of the, we could call it the Florida Red Wave? That’s definitely real. Florida had a massive Red Wave. What was it like for you on Election Night to have been on your surfboard riding along?

CONGRESSWOMAN-ELECT LUNA: It was pretty incredible. The one thing I will say that was done here versus I think the rest of the states is that because of what happened under Governor DeSantis’s leadership with covid, we had a lot of people that ended up moving here, but they didn’t just move and not get active. They got very active at the local level in politics, and so while you had these massively funded basically smear campaigns by the Democrats, right — like they were saying that I was a pro-life extremist, which I love children, to be honest.

BUCK: (laughing)

CONGRESSWOMAN-ELECT LUNA: And they were, you know, saying that I was an insurrectionist, all this crazy stuff. I was talking directly to voters about the economy. And so I will say that grassroots does matter, that I was going out with my team directly and by the end of the election, we had personally knocked on over 50,000 doors and made over 89,000 phone calls. So grassroots does work, but it is hard. (chuckles)

CLAY: You just hit on something that we were talking with the governor of Tennessee, Bill Lee, about. A lot of residents of states that loved being there — Florida, Texas, Tennessee, for example — have seen a massive influx of people from outside of state. What you’re basically suggesting there is what I’ve also experienced. People aren’t moving and trying to change it. They’re moving and saying, “Thank you for being the way that you are. Let me help you.” Did you see that in your district, even the new transplants, so to speak, may be redder even than some of the people that they were coming in to live alongside?

CONGRESSWOMAN-ELECT LUNA: Absolutely. The people that moved, at least to Pinellas County — and I saw this on social media with people posting, “I went from being in California where it was all basically blue down ballot, and I’m honored to be casting my vote today for Anna Paulina Luna. We saw people getting active and it actually did create somewhat of an anomaly here in Pinellas County, because what we saw over the last year is the county actually flipped. Not only did our state flip, but the county flipped. And these people are getting very active, I think, largely in part because some of them ended up losing their businesses due to the lockdowns.

CLAY: No doubt.

BUCK: We’re speaking to Anna Paulina Luna. Anna, what now? What next? What do you tell people to make them…? Right? If anyone has concerns, because, you know, Biden’s not talking about how, “We need to defend our democracy,” and Democrats aren’t quite doing a victory lap because it looks like they’re going to lose the House. And who knows about the Senate, but they’re feeling better than they did a week ago, which means our side has some big questions. Do you feel optimistic? I mean, what’s in your sights?

CONGRESSWOMAN-ELECT LUNA: I do, mainly because, not only have I been able to really flip this seat and bring it back to the residents of Pinellas County, which is where it rightfully should be. But I also know and understand not just how to do national outreach, but how to win at a grassroots election level. So I’m not just thinking about myself. I am going to be — and I know it’s going to be difficult time-wise, but I’m going to do it. I’m going to be helping other candidates like myself get elected across the country because I believe that, you know, “For each one, teach one.” You have to raise up other people. That was a quote by Denzel Washington, and I believe that, you know, if God put this in my path and I know how to help others, I’m going to do it.

BUCK: I just want to be clear, Clay, that when Anna is a superstar in Congress —

CLAY: (laughing)

BUCK: — and this was going to happen —

CONGRESSWOMAN-ELECT LUNA: (laughing)

BUCK: — we were like we were like the scouts in the stands watching some of her early games before she made it to the pros. I just want to be clear.

CLAY: It is going to be… I’m curious for you, Anna — and we’re finishing off the hour here, so not a long time to answer. Are you prepared for how much of a difference you’re going to be able to make on a national stage? I know you’ve got to represent all your constituents and you’re going to do a good job of that in Florida. But your voice now is going to carry so much more weight as a member of Congress? Are you ready? Are you excited?

CONGRESSWOMAN-ELECT LUNA: I think I’ve been preparing my whole life, so I’m ready for it. (laughing)

BUCK: Fantastic. Anna Paulina Luna, everybody. A big win for her. Congrats to you and give our best to Andy.

CONGRESSWOMAN-ELECT LUNA: Thank you. (laughs)

BUCK: And thank you so much for being with us.