Charlie Crist’s calling? Running for office
The electoral track record of the once – and future? – governor of Florida.
Charlie Crist, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate for Florida, speaks during a campaign stop at the E Pat Larkins Community Center on September 13, 2022 in Pompano Beach. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Win and lose, Charlie Crist has a lot of experience running for office: He’s been on a Florida ballot every election since 2014 – and quite a few before that. Whether as a Republican, independent or Democrat, the 66-year-old politician has so far held five state or federal offices.
He’s back in the ring again this year, fresh from winning the August primary against fellow Democrat Nikki Fried. Now he’s hoping to overtake Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and reclaim the Governor’s Mansion, where he last resided in 2007-11.
City & State takes a look at the general election races he’s run and votes he’s garnered since his first campaign in 1992 for a state Senate seat.
(All election results are from the state’s Division of Elections; some percentages may not add up to 100 because of rounding. Asterisks are next to winners’ names.)
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1992: Florida’s 20th Senate District
* Crist (R) – 84,063 votes (58.3%)
Helen Gordon Davis (D) – 60,221 (41.7%)
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1994: Florida’s 20th Senate District
* Crist (R) – 71,022 (63.3%)
Dana Lynn Maley (D) – 41,173 (36.7%)
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1998: U.S. Senate
Crist (R) – 1,463,755 (37.5%)
* Bob Graham (D) – 2,436,407 (62.5%)
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2000: Florida Commissioner of Education (this position was previously elected statewide, now is appointed by the governor)
* Crist (R) – 2,979,297 (53.7%)
George Sheldon (D) – 2,464,557 (44.4%)
Vassilia Gazetas (I) – 102,358 (1.8%)
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2002: Florida Attorney General
* Crist (R) – 2,636,616 (53.4%)
Buddy Dyer (D) – 2,299,149 (46.6%)
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2006: Governor of Florida
* Crist/Jeff Kottkamp (R) – 2,519,845 (52.2%)
Jim Davis/Daryl Jones (D) – 2,178,289 (45.1%)
Other candidates – 131,136 (2.6%)
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2010: U.S. Senate
Crist (I) – 1,607,549 (29.7%)
* Marco Rubio (R) – 2,645,743 (48.9%)
Kendrick Meek (D) – 1,092,936 (20.2%)
Other candidates – 64,878 (1.3%)
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2014: Governor of Florida
Crist (D) – 2,801,198 (47.1%)
* Rick Scott (R) – 2,865,434 (48.1%)
Other candidates – 285,020 (4.8%)
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2016: 13th Congressional District
* Crist (D) – 184,693 (51.9%)
David Jolly (R) – 171,149 (48.1%)
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2018: 13th Congressional District
* Crist (D) – 182,717 (57.6%)
George Buck (R) – 134,254 (42.4%)
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2020: 13th Congressional District
* Crist (D) – 215,405 (53%)
Anna Paulina Luna (R) – 190,713 (47%)
A write-in candidate received seven votes.
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Coming up on Nov. 8
2022: Florida Governor
Crist (D)
Ron DeSantis (R)
Carmen Gimenez (I)
Hector Roos (Libertarian)