Sharon Newby drops out of congressional race and endorses Anna Paulina Luna

Congressional candidate Sharon Newby, who was running for the Republican nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist in Florida’s 13th Congressional District, announced Friday that she is dropping out of the race and throwing her support behind Anna Paulina Luna.

Newby, a Clearwater businesswoman and retired teacher, was a longshot candidate, having raised just over $2,000, though she did pump more than $40,000 of her own money into her campaign, according to campaign finance documents. In a recent survey last month of likely Republican voters conducted by St. Pete Polls, 1.5 percent of people said they would vote for Newby if the election was held that day.

Luna, a veteran and conservative commentator with a large social media following, has raised nearly a million dollars. In that same survey, 13.9 percent said they would vote for her.

“Anna Paulina Luna is a principled conservative with a warrior’s spirit,” Newby said in a statement issued by Luna’s campaign. “As a life-long conservative and business owner in Pinellas with a military family history, it is extremely important we nominate an unquestioned patriot. Anna’s service to this country, her work ethic, her enthusiasm for helping our President and her core Christian values, made this decision easy. It is time to elect someone that can carry the fight to Washington. To all my friends and supporters, I ask that you give Anna your unwavering support. We must take back the House!”

Luna said she and Newby have become friends on the campaign trail, and that she is “humbled and grateful” for her support.

“Shari is everything that is right with politics,” said Luna in a campaign statement. “She is a hard-working, regular citizen who loves her country and wants to do right by people. I am honored to have her endorsement and look forward to our continued collaboration on fighting for policies that improve the lives of Pinellas County residents.”

Luna faces lobbyist Amanda Makki, veteran and retired firefighter George Buck Jr. and former lawyer Sheila Griffin in the Aug. 18 primary. The winner will take on Crist in the Nov. 3 general election.