Crist's Congressional Bid Already Facing Criticism

WFSU | By Sascha Cordner

Published October 20, 2015 at 3:30 PM EDT

Former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist during a stop at Childs Park in St. Petersburg.

Right after Charlie Crist announced his congressional bid, at least one sitting Florida Congressman is railing against Crist’s candidacy.

On Tuesday, Former Republican Governor Charlie Crist announced he’s running for Congress as a Democrat in a district he grew up in.

“This is home, and that’s one of the main reasons I’m so grateful to be here today, and to run for Congress for my home of St. Petersburg, Florida in Pinellas County is very important and personal to me,” said Crist.

Florida Congressman David Jolly speaking to reporters Tuesday.

But, Republican Congressman David Jolly—who’s running for Marco Rubio’s Senate seat—says as a person who lives around that same area, he’s against a Crist run. Crist is also running for the seat now held by Jolly.

“At the end of the day, I'm a constituent, and this is about who represents the Jolly household in Pinellas County in Congress,” said Jolly, to a group of reporters. “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure it’s somebody other than Charlie. I care too deeply who serves in Congress on behalf of Pinellas County to lay down over the next 14 months, and let this huckster walk into office.”

Crist failed to win the 2010 U.S. Senate race against Rubio, and more recently, lost a gubernatorial bid against Governor Rick Scott last year.

For more news updates, follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter: @SaschaCordner .