Tony D'Arrigo, a Largo hospitality professional and small-business owner, is running for Florida's 13th Congressional District with no party affiliation. He faces Republican Anna Paulina Luna and Democrat Leela Gray in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

Asked why he is running, D'Arrigo said in our candidate questionnaire: "I believe government should work for the people who actually live with the consequences of its decisions. I know what it is like to work, struggle with rising costs, depend on public programs when times are difficult, and navigate a healthcare system where one serious illness can financially devastate a family."

Candidate information

Party affiliation: "Independent," according to D'Arrigo's questionnaire response. He is listed on the ballot with no party preference.

Education: "Seton Hall University- Criminal Justice," D'Arrigo said in our questionnaire. BallotReady lists a bachelor's in criminal justice from Seton Hall University in 2006.

Family: "No Wife or kids currently," D'Arrigo said in our questionnaire.

Prior elected or appointed office: "None," D'Arrigo said in our questionnaire.

Occupation: "Hospitality professional, small-business owner, and community advocate," D'Arrigo said in our questionnaire. He added: "My professional background has given me firsthand experience with the challenges working people and small businesses face, including rising costs, wages, healthcare expenses, and the everyday realities of making ends meet."

D'Arrigo is also a published author, according to his response to a WFTS questionnaire.

Experience and public service

According to BallotReady, D'Arrigo's work history includes restaurant and bar operations shift manager at Caesars Entertainment Corporation (2006–2011), operations manager at Tropicana Hotel and Casino (2011–2014), beverage manager at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa (2014–2015), food and beverage manager at Shephard's Beach Resort (2015–2017), and business management consultant at Carver Hotel Group (2017–present). He has been owner operator of Two Step Entertainment, LLC since 2008.

On the issues

Top priority — affordability: D'Arrigo said in our questionnaire: "My top priority is affordability and the cost of living. Families are being squeezed simultaneously by housing, healthcare, food, transportation, energy, taxes, and high-interest debt. Congress needs to address those costs together rather than relying on one temporary fix."

He said he would introduce a "comprehensive Working Families Affordability Act" that would "eliminate federal income tax liability for households earning under $75,000, create a federal mortgage option designed to keep qualifying primary-residence rates at or below 5%, provide universal school breakfast and lunch, establish reasonable consumer interest-rate protections, and reduce healthcare and prescription-drug costs."

Healthcare: D'Arrigo said in our questionnaire that he supports "universal coverage while preserving patients' ability to choose their doctors." He said he would propose "tying premiums and out-of-pocket costs to household income so medical expenses cannot consume an unreasonable share of a family's budget."

Immigration: D'Arrigo said: "I support both secure borders and an immigration system that is lawful, efficient, and humane." He said he would support legislation to "modernize and adequately staff the asylum and immigration-court systems so cases are decided more quickly instead of remaining unresolved for years."

Energy and environment: D'Arrigo said: "For Florida, climate policy is also economic policy. Sea-level rise, flooding, extreme heat, and stronger storms threaten property, infrastructure, insurance affordability, tourism, and our coastline."

Differences from opponents: D'Arrigo said: "I am offering an independent approach with unusually specific policy proposals."

Best advice: D'Arrigo shared this guiding principle: "Never become so committed to being right that you stop listening to the possibility that you could be wrong."