Florida s Crist becomes first prominent Democrat to challenge DeSantis
Updated
TALLAHASSEE Rep. Charlie Crist, the former Florida governor who wound up leaving the Republican Party amid the tea party backlash aimed at Barack Obama, became the first prominent Democrat in the state to announce a bid to knock off incumbent Gov. Ron DeSantis.
But Crist’s Tuesday announcement replete with a gospel choir and flags fluttering in the wind nearly got overshadowed by rival Democrats also planning their own challenges.
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, who held a press conference to call on DeSantis to veto a long line of bills, all but guaranteed Tuesday that she is running for governor. And Rep. Val Demings put out a biographical video on her social media account that appeared tailor-made for an expected bid.