Rick Kriseman Backs 'Lifelong Democrat' Eric Lynn Over Charlie Crist

Former Gov. Charlie Crist launched his bid to replace U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., in Congress on Tuesday but his main primary rival unveiled a major endorsement. 

Eric Lynn, a former Obama administration Defense Department official, announced that he was being backed by St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. The Lynn camp unveiled a Web video with the endorsement. 

In the video, Lynn stresses he is a “lifelong Democrat.” That stands in sharp contrast with Crist who was elected state education commissioner, attorney general and governor as a Republican. After being caught by Marco Rubio in the Republican U.S. Senate primary in 2010, Crist left the GOP to continue his bid with no party affiliation but he placed a distand second. In 2014, Crist was the Democratic gubernatorial nominee but lost to Gov. Rick Scott.