Greek-American Congressman Crist Wins Re-election

Democratic U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, who  represents the state’s 13th congressional district, including the cities of St. Petersburg and Clearwater, has won re-election in Florida.

With all precincts reporting from the midterm elections, Crist glided to an easy victory over Republican challenger George Buck, with 57 percent of the vote to 42 percent.

Congratulations @CharlieCrist on your victory tonight! pic.twitter.com/a8DdGe93nm

— Florida Democrats (@FlaDems) November 7, 2018

Thanks to everyone who knocked doors and made calls to make this possible! I am honored to continue serving my Pinellas neighbors. God bless!

— Charlie Crist (@CharlieCrist) November 7, 2018

Crist, whose family name is derived from “Christodoulou” and whose father is partly of Greek Cypriot descent, was born in Pennsylvania but raised in Florida.

Initially a Republican, his political involvement began with an unsuccessful campaign for a state Senate seat in 1986, prior to being elected to the state Senate seat for the 20th District in 1992. A meteoric rise in politics followed, with Crist elected as Florida Attorney General in 2002 and as Florida Governor in 2006, serving until 2011 and narrowly losing a new bid for the governorship in 2013. Crist became a Democrat in 2012.

In Congress, Crist is a member of the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. He is also a member of the New Democrat Coalition, the Blue Dog Coalition, and the Climate Solutions Caucus. More details about Crist’s campaign can be found at www.charliecrist.com.