Por Renan Filho · 2026-09-28**Lead**
Ana Navarro, the outspoken co-host of ABC’s “The View,” used her national platform on Monday to urge voters in Florida’s 13th Congressional District to cast their ballots for the Democratic candidate in a closely watched special election. Speaking during a segment focused on the race to replace former Representative Charlie Crist, Navarro framed the contest as a referendum on abortion access and the future of political civility in the state. The election, scheduled for November 2026, has drawn national attention as a bellwether for Democratic turnout in the post-Dobbs era.
**Context**
The Florida 13th District, which covers parts of Pinellas County including St. Petersburg, has been a perennial swing seat. It was held by Charlie Crist, a former Republican governor who switched parties and served as a Democrat until he vacated the seat to run for governor in 2022. The current special election was triggered by Crist’s resignation to accept a position in the Biden administration. The Democratic nominee, state Representative Lindsay Cross, faces Republican candidate Anna Paulina Luna, a former Air Force veteran and conservative activist who narrowly lost the district in 2024.
Navarro’s appeal came during a “Hot Topics” segment on “The View,” where she noted that the district’s electorate is evenly split between registered Democrats, Republicans, and independents. She highlighted Luna’s record on abortion, pointing to Luna’s support for a six-week abortion ban signed by Governor Ron DeSantis. “This is not about party labels,” Navarro said. “It’s about whether women in this district will have the freedom to make their own health care decisions. Anna Paulina Luna wants a total ban with no exceptions. Lindsay Cross will protect your rights.”
Navarro, a longtime Republican strategist who has become a vocal critic of the Trump wing of her party, has a history of crossing party lines. She endorsed Joe Biden in 2020 and has frequently used her platform to advocate for Democratic candidates in competitive races. Her comments on Monday were consistent with her broader effort to mobilize moderate and independent voters in Florida, a state that has shifted rightward in recent cycles but still contains pockets of Democratic strength.
**Analise**
The significance of Navarro’s endorsement lies in her unique position as a conservative voice on a liberal-leaning talk show. Her appeal to “sane Republicans” and independents could prove decisive in a district where turnout among moderate voters often determines the outcome. Political analysts note that the Florida 13th race is one of the most expensive House contests of the cycle, with both parties pouring millions into television ads and ground operations. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has designated the seat as a “Red to Blue” priority, while the National Republican Congressional Committee has countered with heavy spending on Luna’s behalf.
Navarro’s intervention also underscores the centrality of abortion rights as a mobilizing issue for Democrats in 2026. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, special elections across the country have consistently shown that voters in swing districts are motivated by reproductive freedom. In Florida, a state where the legislature has enacted increasingly restrictive abortion laws, the issue is particularly potent. A recent survey by the Public Religion Research Institute found that 62% of Florida voters believe abortion should be legal in most or all cases, a figure that includes a significant number of Republican women.
However, the race is not solely about abortion. Luna has focused her campaign on inflation, crime, and border security, issues that resonate with many voters in the district. She has also sought to portray Cross as a “radical” liberal who supports defunding the police, a charge Cross has denied. The outcome will likely hinge on which message breaks through in the final weeks of the campaign. Early voting data from Pinellas County shows a surge in Democratic turnout, but Republicans have also been turning out in strong numbers.
**Fontes**
This article is based on the following sources: the broadcast segment of ABC’s “The View” aired on September 28, 2026; campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission for the Florida 13th Congressional District race; public statements from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee; and demographic and voting data from the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections office. Additional context was drawn from the Public Religion Research Institute’s 2026 American Values Atlas survey on abortion attitudes in Florida.