Crist, Charlie

Charles Joseph Crist Jr. (born July 24, 1956) is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he has served as the U.S. Representative from Florida's 13th congressional district since 2017. A member of the Republican Party until 2010 and an Independent from 2010 to 2012, Crist previously served as the 44th governor of Florida from 2007 to 2011.

Born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, he moved with his family to St. Petersburg, Florida as a child, graduating from St. Petersburg High School before attending Wake Forest University, earning a B.A. from Florida State University, and a J.D. from the Cumberland School of Law. After graduation, Crist was hired as general counsel to Minor League Baseball. After losing a 1986 bid for the Florida Senate, Crist joined his brother-in-law in private practice. He soon returned to politics, serving as an aide to Senator Connie Mack, III.

In 1992, Crist was elected to a two-year term to the Florida Senate from the 20th district; he was re-elected to a four-year term in 1994. In 2000, he was elected Education Commissioner of Florida, a position he held until it became an appointive office in 2003. In 2002, Crist was elected Florida Attorney General. In 2006, Crist was elected Governor of Florida. On May 12, 2009, Crist announced that he would not run for reelection as governor in 2010, making him the first Florida governor not to run for reelection since 1964.

After initially leading in the 2010 Senate race for the Republican nomination, Crist was overtaken in the polls by Marco Rubio when the state GOP committee decided not to fund his reelection bid, and in April 2010, Crist left the Republican Party to run as an independent. In the general election, he lost to Rubio in a three-way race. On December 7, 2012, Crist joined the Democratic Party, having endorsed President Barack Obama for reelection in 2012. On November 1, 2013, he announced that he was running for governor in the 2014 election. He was narrowly defeated by his successor, Rick Scott. In 2016, Crist was elected to Congress from his home district, the 13th. As of the 117th Congress, Crist is the only former governor serving in the House.

In Congress, Crist is committed to working in a nonpartisan manner to create jobs, increase wages, protect our beaches from climate change, honor our military and veterans, and protect the benefits seniors have earned. With his role on the prestigious House Appropriations Committee, he is fighting to combat climate change, protect clean air and water, provide for a strong national defense, support veterans, build better roads and bridges, and strengthen programs designed for those struggling to make ends meet. Crist is a candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination in the 2022 Florida gubernatorial election.