Charlie Crist

Charlie Crist
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 13th district
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded by David Jolly
44th Governor of Florida
In office
January 2, 2007 – January 4, 2011
Lieutenant Jeff Kottkamp
Preceded by Jeb Bush
Succeeded by Rick Scott
35th Attorney General of Florida
In office
January 7, 2003 – January 2, 2007
Governor Jeb Bush
Preceded by Richard Doran
Succeeded by Bill McCollum
21st Education Commissioner of Florida
In office
January 3, 2001 – January 7, 2003
Governor Jeb Bush
Preceded by Tom Gallagher
Succeeded by Jim Horne
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 20th district
In office
November 3, 1992 – November 3, 1998
Preceded by Constituency redistricted
Succeeded by Jim Sebesta
Personal details
Born Charles Joseph Crist, Jr.
(1956-07-24) July 24, 1956
Altoona, Pennsylvania, U.S
Political party Democratic (2012–present)
Other political
affiliations		 Republican (before 2010)
Independent (2010–2012)
Spouse(s) Amanda Morrow (1979–1980)
Carole Rome (2008–2017)
Education Wake Forest University
Florida State University (BA)
Samford University (JD)
Signature
Website House website

Charles Joseph Crist Jr. (/krɪst/; born July 24, 1956) is an American attorney and politician serving as the U.S. Representative from Florida's 13th congressional district since 2017. He previously served as the 44th Governor of Florida, from 2007 to 2011.

Crist began his political career as a Republican, serving in the Florida Senate from 1993 to 1999, running unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 1998 when he challenged incumbent Bob Graham and then serving as Florida Education Commissioner from 2001 to 2003 and Florida Attorney General from 2003 to 2007, before being elected governor in 2006.

Crist decided not to run for re-election as governor in 2010, instead announcing on May 12, 2009 that he was running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Senator Mel Martinez. After initially leading in the race for the Republican nomination, he was overtaken in the polls by Marco Rubio, and in April 2010, Crist left the Republican Party and ran as an Independent.[1] In the general election, he lost to Rubio in a three-way race, taking 30% of the vote to Rubio's 49% and Democratic nominee Kendrick Meek's 20%. Crist's term as Florida Governor ended in January 2011.

On December 7, 2012, he joined the Democratic Party, having endorsed President Barack Obama for re-election in 2012.[2] On November 1, 2013, he announced that he was running for governor in the 2014 election.[3] However, he was defeated by incumbent Governor Rick Scott, losing by a 1% margin.[4][5] In 2016 Crist was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Florida's 13th congressional district, defeating incumbent David Jolly by a margin of 52%-48%.[6]

Early life and education

Crist was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania,[7] on July 24, 1956, to Charles Joseph Crist, Sr., an American physician of Greek Cypriot and Lebanese descent,[8] and Nancy (née Lee), of Scots-Irish, Swiss, and Welsh descent.[8][9] His family name is adapted from the original Greek name "Christodoulou."[10]

In his childhood, Crist moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, where he attended Riviera Middle School, Shorecrest Preparatory School,[11][12] and St. Petersburg High School, from which he graduated in 1974. He is the second of four children and has three sisters: Margaret Crist Wood, Elizabeth Crist Hyden, and Catherine Crist Kennedy. He attended Wake Forest University for two years. Crist earned his undergraduate degree from Florida State University, where he was elected vice president of the student body and became a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He received his J.D. from Samford University Cumberland School of Law.[13][14]

Early career

Practicing law

After graduating from the Cumberland School of Law in 1981, and having passed the bar on his third attempt,[15] Crist was hired as general counsel to Minor League Baseball, which was headquartered in St. Petersburg. Drawn to politics, Crist was a candidate for public office for the first time in 1986, as a Republican, in the primary race for a state Senate seat in Pinellas County. After losing in a runoff, Crist joined his brother-in-law in private practice in St. Petersburg, but soon returned to politics as an aide in the successful 1988 United States Senate campaign of Connie Mack III, whom he has since described as his political mentor.[16]

Florida Senate

Crist as a Florida State Senator

Crist was elected to a two-year term to the Florida Senate in 1992 from the 20th District, which encompassed parts of St. Petersburg and south Tampa.[17] Crist defeated longtime incumbent Democratic State Senator Helen Gordon Davis of Tampa, 58.3 to 41.7%.[18][19] Crist was able to unseat Gordon Davis following the 1992 decennial redistricting process, which significantly reconfigured the districts in the Tampa Bay area.[18] His victory was credited with helping to end the 128-year control of the Florida Senate by the Democratic Party, as the Republicans netted three Senate seats in 1992, resulting in a 20-20 tie between the two parties.[18]

He was known as a law-and-order senator, sponsoring legislation requiring inmates to serve at least 85% of their sentences before becoming eligible for parole.[7] He supported teacher salary increases, charter schools, and a specialty license plate for Everglades conservation.[17] With Crist as chairman, the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee investigated actions of then-governor Lawton Chiles amid allegations that Chiles's campaign had made "scare calls" to senior citizens days before the 1994 gubernatorial election. Chiles testified before the committee and admitted that his campaign had made the calls.[7][16]

Crist was reelected to the Senate in 1994 to a four-year term, defeating Democrat Dana Lynn Maley with 63.3% of the vote.[20]

Florida Education Commissioner

Crist gained recognition in 1998 as the Republican challenger to the incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Graham. He lost to Graham by 26 percentage points.[21] He was elected Education Commissioner of Florida in 2000 – a position he held until it became an appointive office in 2003, as the result of a 1998 constitutional amendment.[16]

Crist left his position after he was elected attorney general.

Political career

Florida Attorney General

In 2002 Crist was elected as the Attorney General in Florida. His candidacy was supported by the host of America's Most Wanted, John Walsh. Walsh and other supporters cited his work with the Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Crist was praised by civil rights and consumer groups for expanding the powers of the Attorney General during his time in office. These powers enabled him and future Attorneys General to have greater powers when prosecuting in civil rights and fraud cases. He also worked at combating spam e-mail and froze utility rates. He sought to end telecom deception and protect the environment.[7][22]

Governor of Florida

Crist's official portrait as Governor

Having won the 2006 election, Crist was inaugurated as Governor of Florida on January 2, 2007. He was involved in the state's purchase of sugar plantations. He also worked on education, with Florida rising into the top 10 states for K12 education under his control.[23]

Fiscal policies

Crist supported President Barack Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, a stimulus package in response to the Great Recession.[24][25][26] Fellow Republicans were angered by Crist's support for the stimulus.[27]

Crist called the act a "godsend,"[28] maintaining that it had saved the jobs of nearly 20,000 Florida schoolteachers and other school workers in 2009-10.[29]

Social policies

Capital punishment

As governor, Crist supported capital punishment.[30]

Gun rights

In 2008, he signed a provision that prevents employers from prohibiting employees' bringing firearms to the workplace, as long as the weapons are secure and individuals maintain a concealed carry license.[31][32]

Abortion

Crist's stance on abortion has been unclear at times.[33] In 1995, while in Florida Senate, Crist joined with two Democrats in the Senate Health Care Committee in voting against a proposal for a mandatory 24-hour waiting period before a woman could have an abortion, resulting in a 3-3 tie vote and the defeat of the bill.[33] In 1998, while running for the U.S. Senate, Crist wrote in a Tampa Bay Times questionnaire that "I believe that a woman has the right to choose, but would prefer only after careful consideration and consultation with her family, her physician and her clergy; not her government."[33] Crist said in a debate that year that he did not support a constitutional amendment banning abortion.[33] In 2006, while running for governor, Crist said that he did not support overturning Roe v. Wade and opposed a mandatory 24-hour waiting period before a woman could have an abortion.[33]

In 2010, while running for the U.S. Senate again, Crist said he would "fight for pro-life legislative efforts" and described himself as "pro-life."[34] By March 2010, however, as rumors swirled that he would leave the Republican Party and become an independent, Crist reiterated that he did not support overturning Roe v. Wade and told a Christian Family Coalition group that "We ought to instead of change laws, change hearts."[35]

In June 2010, after leaving the Republican Party and becoming an independent, Crist removed anti-abortion language from his website.[36] Shortly thereafter, Crist vetoed a bill to require women seeking abortions to pay for and receive an ultrasound, calling the measure "punitive" and "almost mean-spirited."[34][36] The bill also included language barring abortion coverage "under a contract toward which any tax credit or cost-sharing credit is applied."[37] Legislative Republicans and anti-abortion groups said that his language was aimed at preventing "what they considered the possibility of federal funding being used for abortion in Florida,"[36][37] while abortion rights groups said that the broadly written provision would have resulted "in hundreds of thousands of women losing health care coverage that they currently have."[37] The bill vetoed by Crist also included some provisions "intended to thwart" the Affordable Care Act, the federal health care reform legislation championed by President Obama.[36]

Same-sex marriage and LGBT issues

In 2006, as a proposed state constitutional amendment banning same-sex unions was headed to the ballot in Florida, Crist said that such an amendment was unnecessary because state law already barred same-sex marriages.[38] During the Republican primary, however, Crist went on to sign the petition for the amendment in September 2005 at the request of the Christian Coalition.[38][39] Crist said in campaign materials at the time that he supported "traditional marriage."[38] In 2008, Crist said that he voted for the Florida amendment, which passed.[38]

In a debate and a radio talk show appearance in 2006, Crist indicated support for civil unions.[39] In 2010, after switching to become an independent during the U.S. Senate race, Crist declared his support for civil unions encompassing "the full range of legal protections" including "access to a loved one in the hospital, inheritance rights, the fundamental things people need to take care of their families."[39] It is unclear whether such civil unions would have been prohibited by the 2008 state constitutional amendment which Crist supported.[39]

As governor, Crist deemphasized the marriage issue, saying in a CNN appearance in late 2007 that "It's not an issue that moves me. I'm just a live and let live kind of guy" and telling the Orlando Sentinel in 2008 that the issue was not "top tier" for him.[38][39]

Crist initially supported Florida's ban on same-sex adoption, which had been in place since 1977.[40] Crist publicly expressed support for the ban from the time he was attorney general in 2006 to his early campaign for the U.S. Senate in 2010, even after some state legislators proposed dropping the ban in 2007 and a Miami-Dade judge struck down the ban as unconstitutional in 2008.[40] Crist expressed support for the ban as late as February 2010.[40]

By June 2010, however, Crist expressed openness to changing Florida law to allow same-sex adoption, saying a better approach "would be to let judges make that decision on a case-by-case basis."[40][41]

In September 2010, Crist said that he has had an "appropriate evolution" on gay rights and was considering dropping the state's appeal of the court ruling striking down Florida's ban on gay adoption.[42] Days later, after an appeals court struck down the ban, Crist hailed the ruling "a very good day for Florida" and "a great day for children" and announced that the state would no longer seek to enforce the ban.[40] In a Senate candidates' debate the next month, Crist attributed his shift in positions to "the convergence of life experience and wisdom," saying that he had become more tolerant and become less judgmental with age.[40]

In January 2014, Crist apologized for his support for the 2008 same-sex marriage ban and for the same-sex adoption ban, telling an Orlando LGBT publication that "I'm sorry I did that. It was a mistake. I was wrong. Please forgive me."[43][44][45]

Environmental work

As an environmental advocate, Crist, in June 2008, proposed the State of Florida buy 187,000 acres (760 km2) from the United States Sugar Corporation for $1.2 billion. The purchase would remove about 187,000 acres of sugar farming for restoration efforts. In front of supporters in Palm Beach County, Crist described the deal "as monumental as our nation's first national park."[46] Economic changes forced the purchase to be reduced to 73,000 acres (300 km2) of sugar and citrus plantations for Everglades restoration projects.[47][48][49][50]

He announced plans to sign executive orders to impose strict air pollution standards in the state, with aims to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent of the 1990 levels, by 2050 .[51] In his gubernatorial campaign, Crist opposed offshore oil drilling. Crist altered that position in June 2008, when oil reached peak prices, saying "I mean, let's face it, the price of gas has gone through the roof, and Florida families are suffering, and my heart bleeds for them."[52]

Other issues

Crist endorsed legislation requiring paper records of all ballots cast in an election, after claims that votes were undercounted in black communities by computerized voting machines. He supported a large tax cut which was to total $25 billion over a 5-year period. The tax cut was aimed at property tax relief.[53]

In April 2010, Crist vetoed an education bill that would have linked teacher pay to test scores, a piece of legislation strongly supported by conservatives.[54]

He supported increased regulation of the insurance industry, including property insurance rates (in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina) and health insurance. The Citizen's Property Insurance Corp and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund have been described as risky and underfunded. Standing next to former football star Dan Marino (whose son, Michael, is autistic and who inspired the Dan Marino Foundation[55]), Crist signed a law expanding health coverage statewide for autism disorders and he has also signed legislation expanding low-income coverage and creating public and private insurance options in the state.[56][57][58][59][60][61]

Role in the 2008 presidential election

Crist in Brazil, 2007

Senator John McCain endorsed Crist's 2006 campaign for governor, traveling the state to campaign with him. The day before the general election, Crist held a campaign event with McCain in Jacksonville. Later, when the Republican Presidential primary debates were held in St. Petersburg, Crist embraced McCain. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who had also campaigned for Crist during the gubernatorial election, had sought his endorsement.[62][63][64][65]

In May 2007, Crist signed a bill moving the date of Florida's presidential primary to January 29, 2008, contrary to national political party rules.[66] Crist joined Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm in asking that their states' delegates be seated. Both national conventions ended up seating all delegates, but with only a half vote each for the sanctioned states.[67][68][69][70]

On January 26, 2008, he endorsed McCain in the Republican primary race.[71] McCain later won the primary by five percentage points.[72]

On October 28, 2008 Crist extended early voting hours of operation and declared that a "state of emergency exists" due to record voter turnout and resultant hours-long waits at locations throughout the state.[73][74]

On November 12–14, 2008, Crist hosted the Republican Governors Association (RGA) annual meeting in Miami. Held the week after the Democratic Party victories in the 2008 election,[75] there was speculation about the tone of the Republican Governors meeting. Then Alaska governor Sarah Palin, the defeated 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, was a featured participant and speaker.

Crist's speech at the RGA conference, "Listen to the Voters and Serve" included his sentiments on how the GOP should evolve:

This party can no longer hope to reach Hispanics, African Americans and other minority groups – we need to just do it. Embracing cultures and lifestyles will make us a better party and better leaders. This desire for inclusiveness is near and dear to my heart ... Last week, the American people made a choice and this week, if we choose to call ourselves leaders, if we truly endeavor to serve with a servant's heart for the people who count on us, then we too must work together, listen to one another and learn from the leaders who made the kind of history the American people deserve.[76]

Crist held a joint interview with Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina and they discussed the split in the Republican Party over where to direct the party's next efforts to gain more voters.[77]

2010 Senate campaign

Crist announced May 12, 2009, that he would not run for re-election as governor in 2010, making him the first Florida governor not to run for reelection since 1964.[78] Instead, he ran for the US Senate, and his main Republican opponent was former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio,[79][80] in addition to Democratic nominee Kendrick Meek.[81]

Crist was initially the front runner in the Republican primary, but later trailed Rubio in polls.[82][83]

Crist announced his intent to run as an unaffiliated candidate in the 2010 senate election, while at the same time, according to a press release from his campaign, he remained a registered Republican.[84] Crist officially changed his registration status to "non party affiliated" on May 13, 2010. Crist did not return campaign contributions made to him while a Republican.[85][86] Crist withdrew from the Republican primary after trailing Marco Rubio in pre-primary polling, and then lost the general election, receiving 29.7% of the vote, compared to 48.9% for Rubio and 20.2% for the Democratic Party candidate Meek.[87]

In April 2011, as part of a settlement of a copyright lawsuit brought by musician David Byrne, Crist apologized for his Senate campaign's use of Byrne's song "Road to Nowhere" without permission.[88][89]

By the spring of 2015 there was media speculation Crist would seek the Democratic nomination for Florida's 2016 senate race. This would have marked his third run for the senate seat (he lost in 1998 and 2010). However, in March 2015 Crist stated he would not seek the nomination. That same month he endorsed U.S. Congressman Patrick Murphy's Senate candidacy.

Out of politics, 2011–14

In January 2011, Crist joined the Tampa office of national personal injury law firm Morgan & Morgan, after expressing an interest in returning to the legal field during his final week in office as governor of Florida. Crist worked primarily in the firm's class action sector as a complex litigation attorney, serving as a "rainmaker" for the firm.[90] In November 2016, after almost six years with the firm, he was elected to serve Florida's 13th District.[91] In February 2018, Brad Slager of Sunshine State News cited evidence that Morgan & Morgan was "attempting to purge all evidence" of its relationship with Crist now that he was a "rookie congressman" with "little-to-no power."[92]

In 2013, Crist performed paid consulting work for Coastal Construction, a Miami-based construction firm owned by Crist's longtime friend Tom Murphy, who is the father of former U.S. Representative Patrick Murphy.[90]

Crist has been a part-time guest lecturer at Stetson University College of Law,[93] with the title of Distinguished Professorial Lecturer.[94]

In August 2012, Crist endorsed President Barack Obama in his campaign for re-election over Republican nominee Mitt Romney, saying that the Republican Party "pitched so far to the extreme right on issues important to women, immigrants, seniors and students that they've proven incapable of governing for the people."[95][96] Crist was a speaker at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, saying "I didn't leave the Republican Party; it left me."[97][98]

Party switch and The Party's Over

On December 7, 2012, Crist announced via Twitter that he had joined the Democratic Party.[2] In his 2014 book The Party's Over, Crist recounted his journey from one party to the other. He claimed that his career in the Republican Party was destroyed by a hug between him and President Barack Obama at a Fort Myers town hall on February 10, 2009. "It was the kind of hug I'd exchanged with thousands and thousands of Floridians over the years," Crist wrote. "I didn't think a thing about it as it was happening." But it "ended my viable life as a Republican politician. I would never have a future in my old party again. My bipartisan hopes and dreams, I would discover soon enough to my shock and disappointment, were vastly overstated and hopelessly out of date."[99]

In May 2014, however, Crist told Fusion's Jorge Ramos that he had left the Republican Party because of its racial attitudes. "I couldn't be consistent with myself and my core beliefs, and stay with a party that was so unfriendly toward the African-American president, I'll just go there," Crist said. "I was a Republican and I saw the activists and what they were doing, it was intolerable to me." In The Washington Post, Chris Cilizza rejected this claim, citing Tampa Bay Times political editor Adam Smith as saying that Crist "was happy as a Republican when the polls showed him leading Marco Rubio by 20 points." Cilizza stated that Crist's party switch "epitomized for many within the Republican base that Crist lacked any core principles or beliefs and, instead, simply went with whatever was popular at the moment."[100]

In a review for The New Republic, Isaac Chotiner called "The Party's Over" an "account of why Crist switched parties", and that Crist had "revealed himself".[101] Writing in Rolling Stone Magazine in 2014, Jeb Lund described Charlie Crist as "a Republican conveniently converted to Democrat", adding: "what made Crist dynamic as a Republican ... was a vaguely populist nose-thumbing at Republican orthodoxy", and that "Charlie Crist is a Democrat only if you are a Republican."[102]

2014 gubernatorial election

In July 2013, it was announced that Crist would be releasing a new book and that it was in the process of being written.[103][104] The release hinted he would be running in the 2014 gubernatorial election. The book, released in February 2014, is titled The Party's Over: How the Extreme Right Hijacked the GOP and I Became a Democrat.[105][106] The book details why Crist became a Democrat and left the Republican Party.[107] On November 1, 2013, Crist filed to run for governor as a Democrat.[108]

Having won the Democratic nomination, Crist was defeated in the 2014 gubernatorial election by Republican incumbent Rick Scott.

Crist holds the rare distinction of losing a statewide general election in Florida as a Republican, Democrat and Independent candidate.

2016 Congressional campaign

On October 20, 2015, Crist announced that he would seek the Democratic nomination for Florida's 13th congressional district, his home district, in the 2016 U.S. House of Representatives elections.[109] He had previously announced on Twitter that he would not run for political office in 2016.[110] Republican incumbent David Jolly, who succeeded 43-year incumbent Bill Young in a 2014 special election, was vacating the seat to run for the same Senate seat for which Crist ran in 1998 and 2010.

However, when Senator Marco Rubio decided to run for re-election, Jolly decided to drop out of the Senate race and seek re-election to the House. He did so even though the 13th had been made significantly more Democratic-leaning when a court tossed out Florida's original congressional map. The new map drew nearly all of St. Petersburg, along with most of the more Democratic southern portion of Pinellas County, into the 13th.[111] Crist defeated Jolly 52-48%,[6] becoming the first Democrat to win this seat since 1955.

2018 Congressional campaign

In 2018, Crist was endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund, which called him "a leader on protecting Florida from and planning for the impacts of climate change during his time as Governor and in Congress."[112]

U.S. House of Representatives

Rep. Crist was sworn in on January 3, 2017. He is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition[113] and the New Democrat Coalition.[114]

Committee assignments

Political positions after party switch

Immigration

In June 2017, Crist was one of 24 House Democrats who voted for Kate's Law. The following month, Crist was one of five Democrats who voted to fund President Trump's border wall, and the next day issued a statement saying that he opposed the wall.[115]

Same-sex marriage

On May 9, 2013, Crist announced that he supports same-sex marriage; "I most certainly support marriage equality in Florida and look forward to the day it happens here."[116] In both 2006 and 2008, Crist announced his support for the Federal Marriage Amendment although by 2010, he had endorsed adoption rights for gay couples.[116][117]

United States embargo against Cuba

Crist wants to lift the United States embargo against Cuba, saying it has not helped to change the government of Cuba. He had supported the embargo earlier as Republican and independent.[118]

Gun policy

Following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December 2012, Crist announced a reversal of some of his previous stances on gun control. Prior to 2012, Crist had sometimes accused his opponents of not supporting gun rights strongly enough. Crist had also been endorsed by the NRA in 2006. Specifically, in 2012, Crist announced that he supported reinstating the Federal Assault Weapons Ban, banning high-capacity magazines, and instating more extensive background checks.[119] In the wake of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, Crist announced his support for additional measures, including a ban on bump stocks.[120] Crist also stated that he does not support arming teachers.[121]

When he left the gubernatorial office in 2011, Crist had an "A" rating from the NRA.[122] In 2016, Crist received an "F" rating from the NRA, indicating that the organization believes that he is an enemy of gun owners' rights.[123]

Felons' voting rights

In a February 12, 2018, op-ed for USA Today, Crist complained that Florida was "one of only three states that permanently bans non-violent, ex-felons from voting" and pronounced that this "disenfranchisement of 1.5 million of our fellow citizens is shameful."[124]

Personal life

Crist and his former wife Carole Rome

In July 1979, Crist married Amanda Morrow. They divorced within a year.[125]

Crist became engaged to Carole Rome on July 3, 2008 after nine months of dating, and was married[126] on December 12 of that year at the First Methodist Church of St. Petersburg, where Crist is a member.[127][128] In February 2017, Crist announced that he had filed for divorce.[129]

Books

  • The Party's Over: How the Extreme Right Hijacked the GOP and I Became a Democrat (2014) ISBN 978-0525954415

References

  1. ↑ Wallsten, Peter; Bauerlein, Valerie (April 29, 2010). "Crist Looks to Go It Alone". The Wall Street Journal.
  2. 1 2 "Changing Affiliation Again, Former Governor of Florida Becomes a Democrat". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 8, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  3. ↑ Associated Press (November 1, 2013). "Ex-GOP Fla. Gov. Charlie Crist to run for job as Democrat". Politico. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  4. ↑ http://enight.elections.myflorida.com/StateOffices/
  5. ↑ Adam C. Smith; Steve Bousquet; Katie Sanders (November 4, 2014). "Florida Gov. Rick Scott defeats Charlie Crist for re-election". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  6. 1 2 2016 Florida House Election Results
  7. 1 2 3 4 Morgan, Lucy (May 9, 2005). "Crist Will Enter Governor's Race". St. Petersburg Times. pp. 1A. Retrieved January 12, 2007.
  8. 1 2 "Charlie Crist, Tom Colicchio, Alicia Menendez, S. E. Cupp, P. J. O'Rourke". Real Time with Bill Maher. Episode 306. February 7, 2014. HBO.
  9. ↑ Steve Bousquet (October 20, 2006). "Father is first for unmarried politico". St. Petersburg Times.
  10. ↑ Medved, Michael (May 28, 2008). "The GOP Veep List: Pros and Cons". Townhall.com. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
  11. ↑ "PUBLIC EDUCATION: Like herding FCATs, Crist's challenge is elusive: Make accountability appealing". St. Petersburg Times. February 25, 2007.
  12. ↑ "Crist's politics getting greener; Not all support focus on global warming". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. April 22, 2007.
  13. ↑ "Charlie Crist: A fuzzy line divides personal and political lives". Sarasota Herald Tribute. August 27, 2006.
  14. ↑ Laura Fitzpatrick AND Lauren E. Bohn (May 14, 2009). "2 Minute Bio". Time Magazine.
  15. ↑ Hegarty, Stephen (September 1, 2001). "Candidate failed 2 bar exams;Florida's top educator, who hopes to be its top legal officer, says failing taught him "never give up.". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  16. 1 2 3 William March (August 9, 2006). "Sticking To His Guns". TBO.com News / The Tampa Tribune. Archived from the original on September 16, 2006.
  17. 1 2 Morris, Allen; Joan Perry Morris, compilers. The Florida Handbook 2007–2008 (31st Biennial ed.). Peninsula Publishing. p. 31. ISBN 978-0-9765846-2-9.
  18. 1 2 3 Leary, Alex (May 15, 2011). "Florida Democrats divided on redistricting, black representation". St. Petersburg Times. Miami Herald. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
  19. ↑ "November 3, 1992 General Election Official Results". Florida Division of Elections Results Archive. Florida Department of State. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  20. ↑ "November 8, 1994 General Election Official Results". Florida Division of Elections Results Archive. Florida Department of State. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  21. ↑ "1998 U.S. Senate results". Federal Elections Commission. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
  22. ↑ "Victory Smiles at Charlie Crist". The International Coordinating Committee "Justice for Cyprus" (PSEKA). October 20, 2006.
  23. ↑ "Charlie Crist touts Florida's improvements in education rankings". Politifact. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Fla. gov touts stimulus package benefit at meeting". Forbes, Associated Press. January 27, 2009. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009.
  25. ↑ Morning Joe. "Crist: Stimulus will help Florida". MSNBC.
  26. ↑ "GOP Gov Support Obama Stimulus". MSNBC Hardball.
  27. ↑ Adam C. Smith (February 13, 2009). "GOP seethes over Charlie Crist's stimulus-plan support". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on October 7, 2009.
  28. ↑ Charlie Crist Effusive About Barack Obama at Tampa Press Banquet, Huffington Post (November 17, 2012).
  29. ↑ Amy Sherman, Charlie Crist says in debate that stimulus saved 20,000 teacher jobs, PolitiFact Florida (October 10, 2014).
  30. ↑ Lesley Clark (November 2, 2005). "Crist: Hands off death penalty law". Miami Herald, via Herald.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2008. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
  31. ↑ Dara Kam (April 15, 2008). "Crist signs bring your gun to work bill". Palm Beach Post. Archived from the original on August 29, 2008.
  32. ↑ "Florida lawmakers pass "take your guns to work" law". Reuters. April 9, 2008.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 Steve Bousquet, Crist's stance on abortion still hazy, St Petersburg Times (August 18, 2006).
  34. 1 2 "Charlie Crist was pro-life, pro-gun and anti-tax, says George LeMieux". Politifact. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  35. ↑ Adam C. Smith, Amid intense chatter, Crist denies he would run as independent Archived March 8, 2010, at the Wayback Machine., St. Petersburg Times (March 2, 2010).
  36. 1 2 3 4 Michael Winter, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist vetoes ultrasound abortion bill USA Today (June 11, 2010).
  37. 1 2 3 Brandon Larrabee, Abortion bill may be political land mine for Crist, News Service of Florida (June 1, 2010).
  38. 1 2 3 4 5 Molly Moorhead, After voting for a ban, Charlie Crist now backs gay marriage, PolitiFact Florida (May 9, 2013).
  39. 1 2 3 4 5 Amy Sherman, Before he changed his stance on gay marriage, Charlie Crist says he always supported civil unions (February 7, 2014).
  40. 1 2 3 4 5 6 On adoption by gay couples, PolitiFact (February 10, 2014).
  41. ↑ Smith, Adam C. (June 18, 2010). "McCollum touts tax freeze; Crist open to gay adoption". St. Petersburg Times. Sarasota, Florida: tampabay.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2010. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  42. ↑ Dara Kim, Crist: I've had 'appropriate evolution' on gay rights, Palm Beach Post (September 14, 2010).
  43. ↑ Johnson, Luke. "Charlie Crist 'Sorry' He Backed Gay Marriage Ban, Calls It A 'Mistake'". Huffington Post. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  44. ↑ "Charlie Crist apologizes for backing same-sex marriage ban". MSNBC. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  45. ↑ "Charlie Crist Says 'Sorry' for Supporting Florida's Same-Sex Marriage Ban". Advocate. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  46. ↑ Guardian UK "Florida to buy 187,000 farmland acres to preserve Everglades" https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/jun/24/conservation.usa
  47. ↑ Miami Herald "Crist praises water managers for support of Big Sugar land buy"
  48. ↑ Miami Herald "Crist has competition: U.S. Sugar has offer from another suitor" http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2008/11/crist-has-compe.html
  49. ↑ AP "Fla. revises deal with US Sugar to save Everglades" By Jessica Gresko The Associated Press November 11, 2008 http://www.topix.com/content/ap/2008/11/fla-revises-deal-with-us-sugar-to-save-everglades%5Bpermanent+dead+link%5D
  50. ↑ Van Natta Jr, Don; Cave, Damien (March 7, 2010). "Deal to Save Everglades May Help Sugar Firm". New York Times. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  51. ↑ Jim Loney (July 11, 2007). "Florida To Introduce Tough Greenhouse Gas Targets". Reuters. Retrieved August 21, 2009.
  52. ↑ "In Switch, Florida's Crist Eyes Offshore Drilling" NPR https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91680890
  53. ↑ "Charlie Crist takes credit for Florida's largest ever tax cut". Politifact. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  54. ↑ Cillizza, Chris. "Charlie Crist didn't leave the Republican party because of racism. He left it because he couldn't win a primary". The Washingto Post. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  55. ↑ "A Foundation Inspired by a Family". Childnett.Tv. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
  56. ↑ Insurance Journal "Fla. Gov. Crist Persuades Cabinet to Block Insurers' Exit" http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2007/02/01/76468.htm
  57. ↑ "Florida Governor Charlie Crist | Governor Crist Launches "Shop and Compare Insurance Rates" Web Site". Flgov.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2010. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
  58. ↑ "Governor Crist Launches Shop and Compare Website" http://www.ShopAndCompareRates.com and http://www.flgov.com
  59. ↑ Wall Street Journal "Florida's Unnatural Disaster Charlie Crist, taxpayers and the next hurricane." https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123371173559046209
  60. ↑ Associated Press "Crist: Florida 'better off' without State Farm" http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090129/NEWS/901290919/0/LIVING
  61. ↑ NPR "State Farm Abandons Florida's Homeowners Market" https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99942808
  62. ↑ Seattle Times "We'll win Florida, Giuliani says" "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
  63. ↑ MSNBC "Giuliani pins his hopes on Florida" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22706715/
  64. ↑ Farrington, Brendan (January 30, 2008). "Gov Crist could benefit from McCain win". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
  65. ↑ The Boston Globe "Calling McCain a true American hero fla governor endorses" Archived July 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  66. ↑ AP and Fox News "Florida Governor Signs Bill to Move Up Presidential Primary to January" Archived September 20, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  67. ↑ New York Times "G.O.P. Plans Early-Primary Penalties" https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/29/us/politics/29calendar.html
  68. ↑ Miami Herald, "All 114 FL delegates get seats on GOP convention floor" http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2008/08/all-114-fl-dele.html
  69. ↑ CNN, "Florida, Michigan get all delegates, but each gets half vote" Archived November 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  70. ↑ Politico, "Florida Gov. wants all delegates seated" http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0208/Florida_Gov_wants_all_delegates_seated.html
  71. ↑ "McCain scores Crist's endorsement". Miami Herald. January 26, 2008. Retrieved October 14, 2008.
  72. ↑ Ray, Whitney (January 27, 2008). "Crist's Endorsement Helped McCain Defeat Romney". Capitol News Service. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
  73. ↑ Flaherty, Mary Pat (October 28, 2008). "Crist Extends Early Voting Hours in Fla". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
  74. ↑ Rabin, Charles; Lebovich, Jennifer; Caputo, Marc (October 29, 2008). "Florida's Early Voting Hours Are Extended". The Miami Herald. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
  75. ↑ CBS News "Barack Obama Wins Presidency" http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/04/politics/main4571289.shtml
  76. ↑ A Message from Charlie "Listen to the Voters and Serve" By Charlie Crist http://www.charliecrist.com/
  77. ↑ Bloomberg News "Governors Crist, Sanford Split Over Republican Path to Success" https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aahiSQ2bhTN8&refer=us
  78. ↑ Ostermeier, Eric (April 2, 2013). "Charlie Crist: There and Back Again?". Smart Politics.
  79. ↑ Damien Cave; Gary Fineout (May 12, 2009). "Restless in Tallahassee, or With Eye on 2012, Governor Rolls Dice". New York Times. Retrieved August 21, 2009.
  80. ↑ Miami Herald "Is Republican Party united behind Charlie Crist?"
  81. ↑ Beth Reinhard (April 2, 2009). "Kendrick Meek raises $1.5 million for Senate bid". Miami Herald.
  82. ↑ "Poll: Crist Ahead If He Runs As Independent". CBS News. April 15, 2010. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  83. ↑ Finn, Tyler (April 16, 2010). "Will Charlie Crist Run as an Independent?". CBS News. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  84. ↑ "Crist's independent run draws praise – and scorn". Orlando Sentinel, April 30, 2010.
  85. ↑ Reinhard, Beth (May 13, 2010). "Charlie Crist won't refund campaign donations - Florida". MiamiHerald.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2010. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
  86. ↑ Gov. Charlie Crist changes course on returning campaign donations Politifact (Tampa Bay Tribune / Miami Herald) May 19, 2010 Crist said he would "probably give it back to them," leading donors to believe that as the dictionary states it was "to be expected" or "without much doubt" that they would see some of their cash back from Crist. We find Crist completely changed his position from entertaining the idea of giving the money back, to definitely not giving the money back. Our verdict: Full Flop.
  87. ↑ Florida Division of Elections. "Official Results of 2010 Election". Archived from the original on November 29, 2014.
  88. ↑ "David Byrne forces Charlie Crist to record embarrassing apology for stealing Talking Heads song".
  89. ↑ "Charlie Crist Official Apology to David Byrne for Copyright Infringement".
  90. 1 2 Matt Dixon, Charlie Crist: Touted as attorney for Morgan & Morgan, but hasn't been in court, Naples Daily News (July 21, 2014).
  91. ↑ "New Member: Democrat Charlie Crist Elected in Florida's 13th District". Roll Call. November 9, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  92. ↑ Slager, Brad. "Is Morgan & Morgan Trying to Memory-Hole Charlie Crist?". Sunshine State News. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  93. ↑ Becky Bowers, Charlie Crist is a big hit in first law lecture at Stetson Archived May 6, 2016, at the Wayback Machine., Tampa Bay Times (April 12, 2011).
  94. ↑ Crist will be Distinguished Professorial Lecturer, Stetson University (February 28, 2011).
  95. ↑ Vanessa Williams, Former Fla. governor Charlie Crist endorses Obama, Washington Post (August 26, 2012).
  96. ↑ Charlie Crist, [Here's why I'm backing Barack Obama], Tampa Bay Times (August 26, 2012).
  97. ↑ Emily Schultheis, Charlie Crist defends Obama at DNC, Politico (September 6, 2012).
  98. ↑ Charlie Crist Remarks at 2012 Democratic National Convention (official video).
  99. ↑ Crist, Charlie. "The Hug That Killed My Republican Career". Time. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  100. ↑ Cillizza, Chris. "Charlie Crist didn't leave the Republican party because of racism. He left it because he couldn't win a primary". The Washington Post. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  101. ↑ Chotiner, Isaac. "Charlie Crist's Achingly Bad Search for Self". New Republic. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  102. ↑ Lund, Jeb. "The Florida Farce: Rick Scott Vs. Charlie Crist". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  103. ↑ "Charlie Crist has "no-holds-barred" book coming out". Tampa Bay.com. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  104. ↑ Linkins, Jason (July 10, 2013). "Charlie Crist Is Writing A Book Because He Is Likely Going To Run For Governor Of Florida". Huffington Post. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  105. ↑ "Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist attacks rivals in new book". WTSP. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  106. ↑ "Charlie Crist attacks rivals in new book". Jacksonville.com. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  107. ↑ "Charlie Crist's new book: Rick Scott is a 'terrible governor,' Sarah Palin is 'different'". Tampa Bay.com. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  108. ↑ "Ex-GOP Fla. Gov. Crist to run for job as Democrat". Washington Times. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  109. ↑ "Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist announces he's running for Congress". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  110. ↑ @CharlieCrist (March 16, 2015). "I will not be seeking office in 2016, but I will be working alongside my fellow @FlaDems. Join me at t.co/VGsDGXVgvk" (Tweet). Retrieved October 21, 2015 – via Twitter.
  111. ↑ Steve Newborn; Mark Schreiner (November 9, 2016). "Crist Revives Political Career With Win over Jolly". WUSF-FM.
  112. ↑ Auster, Craig. "LCV ACTION FUND ENDORSES CHARLIE CRIST FOR RE-ELECTION". League of Conservative Voters. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  113. ↑ "Members". Blue Dog Coalition. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  114. ↑ "Members". New Democrat Coalition. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  115. ↑ IANNELLI, Jerry. "Florida Democrat Charlie Crist Votes to Fund a Border Wall He Says He Doesn't Support". Miami New Times. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  116. 1 2 Weiner, Rachel (May 9, 2013). "Charlie Crist endorses gay marriage". Washington Post. Retrieved May 22, 2013. "I most certainly support marriage equality in Florida and look forward to the day it happens here," the Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat wrote on his Facebook page. He congratulated Delaware on becoming the 11th state to legalize gay marriage.
  117. ↑ Associated Press release (May 9, 2013). "Ex-Republican Charlie Crist backs gay marriage". Wisconsin Gazette. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2013. The statement marks a shift in Crist's views on gay marriage. He once supported Florida's constitutional ban on gay marriage, but also later said he wouldn't support a similar federal ban.
  118. ↑ Charlie Crist flip-flops on U.S. embargo against Cuba
  119. ↑ Leary, Alex. "Former Gov. Charlie Crist shifts on guns, supports new restrictions". Tampa Bay Times. Tampa Bay, Florida. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  120. ↑ Sidorowicz, Josh. "As hundreds rally for gun control, bill to put guns in Florida classrooms withdrawn". wtsp.com. Tampa, Florida. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  121. ↑ Perry, Mitch (5 March 2018). "Charlie Crist hopes Donald Trump will push for gun control regulations". Florida Politics. Peter Schorsch. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  122. ↑ Turner, Jim (11 July 2014). "Florida Alert: Governor Scott's Record on Second Amendment Issues". NRA-ILA. National Rifle Association of America, Institute for Legislative Action. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  123. ↑ Nielsen, Allison (20 October 2016). "New Mailer Slams Charlie Crist on Anti-Gun Policies". Sunshine State News. Florida. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  124. ↑ Crist, Charlie. "Charlie Crist: Ex-felons in Florida need their voting rights back". USA Today. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  125. ↑ Bousquet, Steve (August 27, 2006). "Charlie Crist: A fuzzy line divides personal and political lives". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
  126. ↑ "Crist–Rome Wedding Photos". St. Petersburg Times. December 12, 2008. Retrieved December 13, 2008.
  127. ↑ "Governor Crist and Carole Rome set wedding date". WFOR-TV. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
  128. ↑ Dolinski, Catherine (November 13, 2008). "Crist's December Wedding Will Follow Tradition". The Tampa Tribune. p. 6.
  129. ↑ Smith, Adam C (February 24, 2017). "Charlie Crist files for divorce from wife Carole". Miami Herald. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Bill Grant		 Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Florida
(Class 3)
1998		 Succeeded by
Mel Martinez
Preceded by
David Bludworth		 Republican nominee for Attorney General of Florida
2002		 Succeeded by
Bill McCollum
Preceded by
Jeb Bush		 Republican nominee for Governor of Florida
2006		 Succeeded by
Rick Scott
Preceded by
Alex Sink		 Democratic nominee for Governor of Florida
2014		 Succeeded by
Andrew Gillum
Political offices
Preceded by
Tom Gallagher		 Education Commissioner of Florida
2001–2003		 Succeeded by
Jim Horne
Preceded by
Jeb Bush		 Governor of Florida
2007–2011		 Succeeded by
Rick Scott
Legal offices
Preceded by
Richard Doran		 Attorney General of Florida
2003–2007		 Succeeded by
Bill McCollum
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
David Jolly		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 13th congressional district
2017–present		 Incumbent
Current U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Lou Correa		 United States Representatives by seniority
381st		 Succeeded by
Val Demings
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