Charlie Crist Archives - Tennessee Star

Crist Calls for Kavanaugh, Gorsuch to Be Impeached over Abortion Ruling

June 26, 2022June 25, 2022 The Center Square

Democratic Congressman Charlie Crist, the former Republican governor of Florida who’s running as a Democrat hoping to defeat incumbent Gov. Ron DeSantis in November, said Friday that Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh should be impeached if they lied under oath during their Senate confirmation hearings.

Crist’s call comes after Gorsuch and Kavanaugh joined in a majority U.S. Supreme Court ruling to overturn two landmark abortion cases – Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The decision returns decisions on the legality of abortion back to the states.

Democrats Coalescing Around Charlie Crist

June 16, 2022June 15, 2022 Grant Holcomb

In the last week, Congressman Charlie Crist (D-FL-13) and 2022 gubernatorial hopeful received endorsements from numerous high-profile officials and groups. The string of endorsements shows a likely narrowing-down of choices in what has been a year-long battle for top dog in the 2022 gubernatorial Democrat primary.

Democrat Officials Think DeSantis Might Be ‘Unstoppable’

May 4, 2022May 5, 2022 Grant Holcomb

Democrat operatives are continually showing signs that they feel they cannot win in Florida in the 2022 gubernatorial election observing that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis seems “unstoppable.” A recent report from Politico showed that Democrats in Florida and Washington, D.C. are not feeling confident, the latter determining how many resources will be sent to the Sunshine State to attempt to unseat Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).

Florida Democrat Gubernatorial Candidate Charlie Crist Says Biden Will Go Down as ‘One of the Best’

May 1, 2022April 30, 2022 Grant Holcomb

In a question-and-answer article with the Tallahassee Democrat, Florida Congressman Charlie Crist (D-FL-13) said President Joe Biden (D) will go down as “one of the best [presidents] we’ve ever had.” His comments come as he has become the Democrat frontrunner for the 2022 Florida Democrat gubernatorial primary.

Gubernatorial Hopeful Crist Calls DeSantis Supporters ‘Toothless’

April 26, 2022April 25, 2022 Grant Holcomb

In a video circulated across social media sites, Florida Congressman Charlie Crist (D-FL-13) referred to supporters of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) as “toothless.” Crist is trying to outlast other Democrat candidates for the 2022 Florida gubernatorial nomination to eventually face off against DeSantis in the November general election.

In the video, Crist is speaking at an event and said DeSantis is trying to score “political points.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis Re-Election Fundraising Tops $100 Million

April 12, 2022April 11, 2022 Grant Holcomb

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has raised more than $100 million, according to a campaign contributions report, and is the first candidate to reach the nine figure mark in the 2022 election cycle.

DeSantis has extended his lead over all of the likely opponents for the general election: Congressman Charlie Crist (D-FL-13), Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D), and Florida State Sen. Annette Taddeo (D-Miami).

Poll: Florida Democrats Support Limits on Teaching Sexual Orientation in Schools

March 28, 2022March 27, 2022 Steve Stewart

A new poll of Democrat voters in Florida shows that a majority of Democrats support limits on teaching sexual orientation in schools as required by the Parental Rights in Education bill.

The poll was conducted from March 17-20 for Floridians for Economic Advancement, a political committee that has supported state legislative candidates from both parties.

The poll comes amid national protests against the Parental Rights in Education bill that critics have labeled the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The bill “prohibits a school district from encouraging classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.”

The main focus of the poll was the Democrat gubernatorial primary. Those results indicated that shows 43% of likely Democratic Primary voters favor Charlie Crist, with 33% picking Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, and 15% liking state Sen. Annette Taddeo. Only about 8% of respondents started out unsure.

However, the poll also asked about a specific provision of the Parental Rights in Education bill.

Republicans Dominate Potential Democratic Opponents in 2022 Elections, New Florida Poll Finds

February 25, 2022February 24, 2022 Cooper Moran

According to a new poll, Republicans running for Governor and U.S. Senate in Florida are dramatically leading their potential Democratic opponents in the upcoming midterm elections.

Specifically, Governor Ron DeSantis leads both notable Democrats that are running to challenge him for his position.

Florida Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Nikki Fried Has Another Low Fundraising Month

February 12, 2022February 11, 2022 Grant Holcomb

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D), running for Florida’s Democratic gubernatorial nomination, raised a combined total of $313,000 in January. Fried’s campaign raised a total of $171,502 and her political action committee, Florida Consumers First, raised $141,854.

Six Democrats Are Running for Governor in Florida

February 8, 2022February 7, 2022 The Center Square

Democrats in Florida have a while to go to decide who they’ll vote for during the primary election scheduled for Aug. 23. So far, six candidates are running ahead of the filing deadline of June 17. Three have held public office, three have never run for any public office.

Long-term Florida politician Charlie Crist is running for governor a third time after having lost his bid in 2014. He’s the only candidate in state history to run for governor as both a Republican and a Democrat. Crist was elected as Florida’s 44th governor as a Republican in 2006. He ran for governor as a Democrat in 2014 and lost.

Latest Polls Show DeSantis, Rubio Outperforming Democratic Challengers

November 24, 2021November 23, 2021 Grant Holcomb

In a newest poll from St. Pete Polls, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is outperforming his likely Democratic challengers in a hypothetical head-to-head general election. According to the poll, DeSantis would defeat Congressman Charlie Crist (D-FL-13) 50.6-44.8 percent. DeSantis would also defeat Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D) 51.2-42.3 percent.

Surprisingly, in the matchup between DeSantis and Crist, DeSantis outperformed Crist among young voters by carrying 57.5 percent of likely voters aged 18-29. The youngest age bracket saw the most swing in favor for DeSantis.

Nikki Fried Says Florida Gov. DeSantis Is Raising Gas Taxes, Others Disagree

November 20, 2021November 19, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D) is calling on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) to suspend Florida’s gas taxes as gas prices increase.

Gov. DeSantis Says Florida Got Shortchanged in Infrastructure Package

November 11, 2021November 10, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida did not get a full share of cash from the recently passed trillion-dollar infrastructure package. He criticized the bill as a whole, but also noted that Florida might not be getting the same amount as other states.

University of Florida Backtracks, Permits Professors to Testify

November 7, 2021November 7, 2021 Grant Holcomb

The University of Florida has completely backtracked on its policy to prevent three professors from testifying in a state legal challenge. The university originally said the professors’ testimony would be a conflict of interest given the university is funded by state dollars.

Charlie Crist Will Legalize Recreational Marijuana If Elected

October 16, 2021October 15, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist (D-FL-13) said earlier this week that if he is elected governor, he vowed to legalize recreational marijuana and expunge criminals with marijuana convictions.

The announcement came as part of the unveiling of Crist’s “Justice for All” criminal justice reform plan, which also included some gun control policies. Crist said the plan is for the communities who have felt left behind by the government.

Charlie Crist’s Justice Reform Efforts Show Policy Switch Since ‘Chain Gang Charlie’

October 13, 2021October 12, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Florida Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist (D-FL-13), earlier this week, announced his new campaign initiative entitled “Justice for All,” but Crist has had a back-and-forth history regarding criminal justice reform issues.

Prior to becoming a Democrat, Crist was an Independent, and before that was Florida’s one-term Republican governor from 2007-2011. He also served in the Florida Legislature as a Republican and in different executive positions during Jeb Bush’s tenure as governor.

Charlie Crist Announces ‘Justice for All’ Initiative Including Gun Control Policies

October 12, 2021October 11, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist (D-FL-13) announced a “Justice for All” initiative, which he would support and push if elected as governor. Parts of the plan would include voting rights restoration and cracking down on gun violence.

Nikki Fried Jabs at Charlie Crist over Past Policies

September 5, 2021September 4, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D) took jabs at Congressman Charlie Crist (D-13) over his previous political affiliations and supporting pro-life policies when he was a Republican. Fried and Crist are both running to unseat Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2022 gubernatorial election.

On Twitter, Fried posted a YouTube clip with the added caption that she is the only candidate who has been “pro-choice” her entire life, referencing an old clip where Crist said “I am pro-life, I am pro-gun, and I am pro-family, and I am anti-tax and I always have been.”

Florida Gov. DeSantis Attracting Big Name Donors, More 2024 Rumors Swirl

September 3, 2021September 2, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been attracting national attention for his handling of the COVID pandemic and after taking different campaign trips across the country he has attracted some of the GOP’s biggest donors.

According to Friends of Ron DeSantis’ campaign documents, Kenneth Griffin, founder of Citadel, a Chicago-based hedge fund, as donated $5 million. David MacNeil, founder of WeatherTech, donated $500,000 in May, and Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus gave $250,000.

Release of Census Numbers Starts Florida’s Redistricting Process

August 14, 2021August 13, 2021 Grant Holcomb

With Florida’s gubernatorial race only a few months in, the political rhetoric is increasing and pressure is mounting on Republican and Democratic sides of the aisle. For the Democrats, they will be attempting to unseat current Gov. Ron DeSantis and current Sen. Marco Rubio.

For Republicans, the pressure is mounting to increase their already dominant presence in Florida’s statewide offices and state legislature. However, this upcoming legislative session will also see the Republican-controlled State House and Senate redrawing Florida’s congressional seats.

Report: Charlie Crist Used Condo Repeal Bill to ‘Woo’ Democratic Voters

July 10, 2021July 9, 2021 Steve Stewart

A report from 2010 indicates that then Governor Charlie Crist signed a condo repeal bill, which is now being investigated for playing a role in the Surfside condo collapse, to “woo” democratic voters in his race for the U.S Senate.

The report, published in the Palm Beach Post on June 25th, 2010, stated that “Gov. Charlie Crist was on the photo-op express Thursday signing the same bill three times in a two-hour period.”

The bill, SB 1196, was sold as a way to “help distressed condominium associations” during a down real estate market by repealing certain regulations that were put in place in 2008.

Florida State Representative Michele Rayner Announces Bid to Replace Charlie Crist in Congress

June 16, 2021June 15, 2021 Casey Owens

State Representative Michele Rayner of District 70 officially announced her campaign for U.S. Congress in 2022 to replace the seat left vacant by Charlie Crist and his bid for Governor.

Rayner, a Democrat and the first openly gay woman of color elected to the Florida Legislature, will join a list of candidates in the upcoming primary looking to represent the Democratic party in the 13th Congressional District of Florida.

Nikki Fried Bashes ‘Rigged’ System, Announces Gubernatorial Run

June 2, 2021June 1, 2021 Peter D'Abrosca

After months of testing the waters and teasing a run for governor, Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner has officially launched her bid to take on incumbent Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).

Fried announced the run Tuesday afternoon, posting a video to her official Twitter account.