Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist has announced his candidacy for mayor of St. Petersburg, marking his return to electoral politics following his unsuccessful 2022 gubernatorial campaign.

Crist, who previously served as Florida's governor from 2007 to 2011, suffered a decisive defeat in the 2022 gubernatorial contest against incumbent Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. The loss marked another unsuccessful statewide campaign for Crist, who has run for various offices as both a Republican and Democrat throughout his political career.

The mayoral race represents a shift to local politics for Crist, who has maintained residency in the Tampa Bay area. St. Petersburg, Florida's fifth-largest city with approximately 260,000 residents, will hold its mayoral election in the coming cycle.

Crist's political career has spanned multiple decades and party affiliations. He initially served as a Republican governor before leaving the party and eventually becoming a Democrat. He later served in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Florida's 13th congressional district from 2017 to 2022 before stepping down to run for governor.