May 4, 2021 - Politics & Policy

Rep. Charlie Crist announces bid to challenge DeSantis for Florida governor

Rep. Charlie Christ wears a white dress shirt and a blue tie

Rep. Charlie Crist in June 2020 in St. Petersburg, Fla. Photo: Octavio Jones/Getty Images

Rep. Charlie Crist (D-Fla.) — a Republican governor-turned-Democratic congressman — officially launched his bid Tuesday to unseat Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).

Why it matters: Crist is the first Democrat to announce a run against DeSantis, who he targeted in his campaign launch ad for his response to the pandemic. DeSantis faced criticism for directing vaccines toward wealthy communities.

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