Charlie Crist Makes Another Political Comeback Attempt in Florida

Clear Facts

• Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist announced he is running for mayor of St. Petersburg
• Crist has switched party affiliations multiple times, running as a Republican, independent, and Democrat in various races
• He was most recently defeated by Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2022 gubernatorial race

Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has announced yet another political campaign, this time setting his sights on the mayor’s office in St. Petersburg. The perennial candidate made the announcement in a video posted to X on Monday.

“Well, it’s official. I’m now a candidate for mayor of St. Pete. God bless you all,” Crist said in the video.

His post includes the message, “I’m in! #stpete.”

“I’ve fought for the City of St. Petersburg in the Legislature, as Education Commissioner, Attorney General, and Governor, and as a United States Representative. Now I’m taking that fight back home, to City Hall, where the city government is failing to address issues that matter most to YOU, my neighbors,” Crist declared on his campaign website.

Crist served as governor of Florida from early 2007 until early 2011. He was initially elected to the governorship as a Republican but lost a 2010 U.S. Senate race while running as an independent.

In a pattern that would define his political career, he lost the state’s 2014 gubernatorial contest while running as a Democrat. Crist went on to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat from early 2017 through August 2022.

Most recently, Crist unsuccessfully sought the governorship again in 2022. Incumbent Gov. Ron DeSantis defeated him decisively in that contest, with Crist failing to gain traction against the popular Republican governor.

The St. Petersburg mayoral race represents a significant step down from Crist’s previous political ambitions. After multiple failed attempts at statewide office, the former governor appears to be recalibrating his political goals to a more local level.

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