Outgoing St. Petersburg Democratic Rep. Lindsay Cross is urging supporters to rally behind Lindsay Polega-Quigley as Democrats move to defend House District 60 from a serious Republican push to flip the seat.

Cross, who announced earlier this month she will not seek re-election, has endorsed Polega-Quigley and is promoting her campaign kickoff next week in St. Petersburg. The race is already taking shape as an early General Election fight, with Polega-Quigley working to keep the seat in Democratic hands and Republican Melissa Rutland consolidating support on the other side.

“I’m committed to ensuring that the people of District 60 are represented by someone who shares our values and will fight for hard working families. With that, I’m excited to introduce you to Lindsay Polega-Quigley (LPQ). She will be running as our Democratic nominee in State House District 60 and has my full endorsement!” Cross said in a news release about the kickoff event.

Polega-Quigley launched her campaign hours after Cross announced she would not run again, entering the race with a platform focused on affordability, reproductive health care, voting rights, water quality and flooding.

Cross highlighted Polega-Quigley’s pro bono legal work and advocacy in Pinellas County, writing that she has been “a strong champion for Pinellas communities” as reason for the endorsement.

“Her expertise battling insurance companies will help address the cost-of-living issues facing so many Pinellas families; not just lowering the cost of home insurance, but the gas and groceries that have hit all our wallets,” Cross said.

HD 60 remains one of the Tampa Bay area’s more competitive House seats. Cross was first elected in 2022 and won re-election in 2024 with 54% of the vote against former St. Petersburg City Council Member Ed Montanari, a race Republicans had targeted as a potential pickup opportunity.

Republicans are already coalescing behind Rutland, a St. Petersburg businesswoman who entered the race after Cross’ announcement. Rutland has drawn backing from Pinellas County Tax Collector Adam Ross and a majority of the Pinellas County Commission, with Commissioners Dave Eggers, Vince Nowicki, Kathleen Peters, Chris Scherer and Brian Scott all endorsing her campaign.

Rutland, who founded the Rutland Florida Gulf Group in 2015, has highlighted her family’s long history in St. Petersburg’s business community and her own civic experience as part of her campaign.

The race is now set as a head-to-head General Election contest, with neither candidate facing Primary opposition.

Polega-Quigley’s campaign kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on June 29 in downtown St. Petersburg. Supporters are being asked to RSVP for the address. The invitation lists host committee levels of $1,000 for “host,” $500 for “co-host,” $250 for “supporter” and $100 for “friend.”

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