Former Gov. Charlie Crist launched a bid for Congress on Tuesday, setting his eyes on a seat which is expected to contain much of Pinellas County.
Insisting he would be the “people’s congressman,” Crist kicked off his campaign by stressing his ability to listen to voters.
“As governor, I always tried to listen and do the right thing for you, the people, like standing by President Obama to save thousands of jobs during the economic collapse, restoring civil rights to nonviolent ex-felons, protecting teachers, and defending the rights of women to make their own health care decisions,” Crist noted. “Even though those decisions were right, they weren't always popular. And I've lost a few elections. It's not fun. It's humbling. But I've learned so much.
“That's why when I hear partisanship and bickering drowning out your voice in Washington, D.C., I can't just sit around. It's not who I am,” Crist added. “I want to give you, the people, the megaphone you deserve in Washington. That's why today I'm announcing that I'm running to be the ‘People's Congressman’ from my home in Pinellas County, Florida.”
Looking to pick up a seat for the Democrats, Crist is running for the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., who is running for the U.S. Senate in 2016. After the Legislature could not agree on congressional redistricting during a special session held in the summer, the state judiciary is currently handling it. Under some of the proposed maps, this swing seat will become more favorable to the Democrats.
This marks Crist’s third effort to end up on Capitol Hill. In 1998, Crist challenged U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., as the Republican nominee. After winning three state offices -- education commissioner, attorney general and governor -- as a Republican, Crist ran again for the Senate in 2010. Starting out as a heavy favorite to win the nomination, Crist was caught in the Republican primary by Marco Rubio who hammered the governor for backing President Barack Obama’s federal stimulus. Crist jettisoned the conservative positions he had held for years and left the GOP to continue his Senate bid with no party affiliation but was blown out by Rubio in the general election.
Crist backed Obama for a second term in 2012 and joined the Democrats at the end of the year. Despite refusing to debate former state Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich in the primary, Crist won his new party’s nomination to challenge Gov. Rick Scott in 2014 but came up short.
The new candidate drew fire from his old party on Tuesday.
“With two statewide losses and a reputation of flip-flopping when convenient, Charlie Crist is once again focusing on advancing his personal political ambitions and not the best interest of Florida families," said Wadi Gaitan, a spokesman for the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF).
Chris Pack, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), slammed Crist’s record in Tallahassee and his constant efforts to seek new offices.
“Floridians have consistently rejected Charlie Crist at the ballot box ever since he hightailed it out of Tallahassee when things got tough,” Pack said. “Under Crist’s failed leadership, Florida lost nearly 800,000 jobs and saw unemployment skyrocket 217 percent. That’s not the type of person the families of the 13th District can afford to have representing them in Washington, and it’s definitely not the type they’re going to get.”
Crist does not have an open shot at the Democratic nomination. Eric Lynn, who worked at the Defense Department in the Obama administration, is running for the Democratic nomination. Former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker and Manuel Sykes, a pastor who flirted with running for Congress before as a Democrat, are possible candidates on the Republican side.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
