Anna Paulina Luna changed her legal surname from Mayerhofer to Luna in 2019 to honor her maternal grandmother and represent her Hispanic heritage. She adopted this name change at age 29, coinciding with her entry into local Florida politics, having previously used her husband’s surname, Gamberzky. Wikipedia +3

Key details regarding her name change:

• Background: Born Anna Paulina Mayerhofer, she has described herself as bicultural and biracial, with a father who was half-German and half-Mexican.
• The Shift: She adopted “Luna,” her mother’s maiden name, to follow her mother’s example and emphasize her Hispanic roots.
• Timing: The name change occurred in 2019, shortly before she filed paperwork to run for Congress and registered as a Pinellas County voter.
• Controversy: Critics, as reported in a Washington Postarticle and mentioned by, questioned the timing of the name change and noted that she had previously registered to vote as “White, not of Hispanic Origin” in 2015.
• Response: Luna has dismissed accusations that the name change was meant to boost her political candidacy, stating she identifies with both sides of her family. Wikipedia +6

Yes, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is of Mexican descent and identifies as Hispanic. She is the first Mexican-American woman elected to Congress from Florida. Born Anna Paulina Mayerhofer, she later adopted her mother’s maiden name, Luna, citing her Hispanic heritage. Her father was of Mexican and German descent, while her mother’s family is Mexican American. House.gov +6

Key details regarding her heritage and background:

• Background: Raised by a single mother in Southern California, she is a U.S. Air Force veteran.
• Identity: She has described herself as a second-generation American with Mexican roots.
• Name Change: In 2019, she legally changed her name from Mayerhofer to Luna, which she stated was to honor her mother’s family.
• Career: Luna has served as the U.S. Representative for Florida’s 13th congressional district since 2023. Anna Paulina Luna for Congress +5

Anna Paulina Luna is a Republican U.S. Representative for Florida’s 13th Congressional District, which covers much of Pinellas County, including St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Since taking office in January 2023, she has become the first Mexican-American woman to represent Florida in Congress. 

Recent Legislative & Public Activity

As of May 2026, Luna has been active on several high-profile issues:

• Pesticide Liability: On April 30, 2026, the House adopted her amendment to the Farm Bill, which removes legal protections for pesticide manufacturers and requires clearer warning labels regarding health risks like childhood cancer.
• UFO Disclosure: Luna chairs the House Oversight Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets. She recently promised a press conference to address “nonhuman origin” materials she claims to have seen in a classified setting.
• MK-Ultra Hearings: She announced that her task force will hold a hearing on May 13, 2026, investigating the CIA’s historical MK-Ultra program.
• Real Estate Reform: She introduced legislation to ban large Wall Street corporations (those with over $500 million in assets) from buying single-family homes to help lower housing costs. House.gov +5

Background and Personal Life

• Military Service: She served in the U.S. Air Forcefrom 2009 to 2014 and is a staunch advocate for veteran care.
• Education: She holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of West Florida.
• Family: She lives in St. Petersburg with her husband, Andy, a veteran who was wounded in Afghanistan.
• Religious Affiliation: She identifies as Messianic Jewish. House.gov +4

Committee Assignments

Rep. Luna serves on the following House Committees:

• Committee on Oversight and Accountability: Where she chairs the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets.
• House Foreign Affairs Committee: Where she chairs the El Salvador Caucus. House.gov +1