Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist has announced he is running for mayor of St. Petersburg, marking his return to local politics in his hometown.

Crist, who previously served as Florida's governor from 2007 to 2011 and as a U.S. Representative, is seeking the mayoral position in the city where he was raised. The announcement represents a shift from federal and state politics to municipal governance for the veteran politician.

Throughout his political career, Crist has held various elected offices at different levels of government. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Florida's 13th congressional district, which includes St. Petersburg, before his current mayoral bid.

The St. Petersburg mayoral race will give voters the opportunity to evaluate Crist's vision for local governance after his experience in higher offices. Details about his campaign platform and the election timeline were not immediately available.