Crist to run against DeSantis for Fla. governorship

U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist won the Democratic nomination for Florida governor Tuesday over Nikki Fried, putting him up against Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in the fall. DeSantis has advanced conservative laws in the state such as the “Stop WOKE Act.” DeSantis is also considered a possible contender for the White House in 2024—a perception Crist scoffed at in his victory speech Tuesday. Florida has not had a Democratic governor since 1994 and the state now has more registered Republicans, nearly 5.2 million, than Democrats, who have about 5 million. But that doesn’t mean the race is decided. The last three races for governor were determined by 1 percentage point or less.

Who is Crist? The 66-year-old Democrat previously governed Florida as a Republican from 2007 to 2011. Near the end of his term, he left the party to run as an Independent for the Senate. He lost that race and became a registered Democrat in 2012. Since then he has served two terms in the St. Petersburg–based congressional seat. Crist said Tuesday night that he would sign an executive order for a “woman’s right to choose” on the first day he’s in office. Right now, Florida protects babies from abortion after 15 weeks in every case except to save the life of the mother or if the baby has a fatal abnormality.

Dig deeper: Read Steve West’s report in Liberties on Florida courts ruling against DeSantis’ “Stop WOKE Act.”