Gray Rohrer
U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist held off a challenge from Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried in Tuesday’s Primary, winning the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Unofficial results from the Florida Division of Elections showed Crist won 60% of the vote to Fried’s 35%. Crist will now face Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Nov. 8 General Election.
“Tonight the people of Florida clearly sent a message,” Crist said in his victory speech. “They want a Governor who cares about them, to solve real problems, who preserves our freedom. Not a bully who divides us and takes our freedom away.”
In the final weeks of the campaign, Fried hit Crist hard, emptying her quiver with attacks on Crist’s past anti-abortion stances when he was a Republican, his hardline record on criminal justice issues and claiming he’s sure to lose to DeSantis in November.
While some polls showed the race tightening in the final stretch, Crist led in most polls throughout the race and a St. Pete Polls survey on the eve of the Primary showed him leading 59% to 30% over Fried.
Fried had her own prior connections to Republicans however, having donated $2,000 to the campaign of Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody, a college friend, in July 2017, before she decided to run for Agriculture Commissioner as a Democrat.
As a lobbyist for a medical marijuana company, she also helped campaign for Republicans, such as former state Sen. Manny Diaz of Miami, now the Education Commissioner. She’s also friends with U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Trump-allied Fort Walton Beach Republican who is under investigation by the FBI for sex trafficking a minor. Gaetz, who has not been charged, denies any wrongdoing. After the Jan. 6 ransacking of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters, Gaetz posted on Twitter that pictures of him during the melee on his phone showed him texting Fried, who had inquired to see if he was OK.
Before the Primary, Fried declined to say whether she’d endorse Crist if she lost, but in her concession speech, she indicated she’d rally behind Crist to prevent DeSantis from winning a second term.
“This is a time that we as Democrats have to come together,” Fried said. “We have to be united like we have never been united before. I will campaign up and down the ballot to make sure that Democrats are elected.”
The win is the latest victory for Crist, 66, who has been running for political office in Florida for 30 years. For Fried, 44, it’s a setback in her early political career, which began with a narrow victory in the Agriculture Commissioner race in 2018.
But the real test will come Nov. 8.
Crist spent $13.7 million between his campaign and political committees combined to defeat a relative political newcomer with much less name ID. As of Aug. 18, he has about $1.5 million left. DeSantis has amassed a campaign war chest of more than $132.4 million between his campaign account and political committee combined.
38 comments
Elliott Offen
August 23, 2022 at 8:04 pm
Go Charlie! We need a hero..to save Florida from white supremacist filth, anti-government terrorists, and Christian fascists. Hopefully he will be elected and rain hell down upon the degenerate right wing filth.
Ron DeSantis Sucks
August 23, 2022 at 8:10 pm
I was hoping Nikki would win so we could Make Conservatives cry again, but I guess Crist will have to do!
Ken
August 23, 2022 at 8:19 pm
So you’re in favor of……
Voter ID laws, are soft on crime, supports early release, no bail, supported de-fund the police. Crist &Demings
marched with Black Lives Matter as they robbed, committed arson, beat citizens in the streets and stole whatever they could. Crist and Demings condemed nothing. They support convicts the right to vote from prison, gun control, (beyond) weak on border security and opposed the wall. Crist & Demings supports the new leftist class room curriculum for very young children. The indoctrination not education in critical race theory who is a racist, transgender, bisexuality, homosexuality, gender identity, green new deal, Crist and Demings support Bidens war on oil, public funds for illegal aliens-including college, labor rights, economic reform, and welfare for immigrants. Crist & Demingsd like most Democrats are out of touch with the middle class. Crist recently stated “Joe Biden is doing a great job.” Nuff said.
Mary
August 23, 2022 at 8:45 pm
Well said Ken!!!
Charlie Crist
August 23, 2022 at 9:44 pm
It’s far right propaganda..buncha BS.
Ron DeSantis Sucks
August 24, 2022 at 1:23 am
What Ken said just makes me want to vote for Crist and Demings even more. We’d be in a much better place if we were smart on crime, instead of tough on it. Also, the wall is an incredibly stupid idea.
Impeach Biden
August 24, 2022 at 7:05 am
Walls don’t work? Then why did Joe Biden just spend 500k putting one around his Delaware beach house?
Ron DeSantis Sucks
August 24, 2022 at 5:52 pm
There’s a huge difference between 800 miles of walls and a couple hundred feet of walls.
marylou
August 23, 2022 at 9:36 pm
“labor rights” : Okay, you’re just repeating Desantis, but what is the problem with worker’s rights? Is that a typo?
Joy
August 23, 2022 at 11:35 pm
Where do you get your information? Because it sounds like right wing talking points.
Ron DeSantis Sucks
August 24, 2022 at 1:15 am
What’s wrong with convicts being allowed to vote from prison? EVERY CITIZEN should be allowed to vote, including those who are incarcerated. If they actually do support allowing people to vote from prison, now I’m even more excited to vote for them.
What’s wrong with gun control? What’s wrong with allowing more people in? What’s wrong with opposing the wall? What’s wrong with teaching children that transgender and gay people exist? What’s wrong with labor rights, economic reform, and welfare? Yes, I am OK with almost everything you listed here.
Ron DeSantis Sucks
August 24, 2022 at 1:22 am
Almost everything you listed sounds reasonable to me. Yes, I’m in favor of making it easier to vote, being softer on (non-violent) crime, supporting early release, reforming (not de-funding, which is a terrible catchphrase) the police, and reducing reliance on cash bail or eliminating it altogether. Bail is not a punishment, and its only purpose should be to ensure that the accused appears in court. If someone is too dangerous to be released, then their bail should be denied.
What’s wrong with convicts being allowed to vote from prison? EVERY CITIZEN should be allowed to vote, including those who are incarcerated. If they actually do support allowing people to vote from prison, now I’m even more excited to vote for them.
What’s wrong with gun control? What’s wrong with allowing more people in? What’s wrong with opposing the wall? What’s wrong with teaching children that transgender and gay people exist? What’s wrong with labor rights, economic reform, and welfare? Yes, I am OK with almost everything you listed here.
Charlie Crist
August 24, 2022 at 5:45 am
Right wingers are all about strictly upholding class based society where there are two kinds of people… winners and losers. If they have to do this using incarceration, voter supression, racism, oppressive laws, and non payment of taxes then they will do so These are not socially responsible people and people who make inclusion of others a priority. Not to mention that historically the far right needs a neverending stream of enemies to thrive. All of this while trying to fool others into thinking that this is the American way or somehow a better way to exist. These are not good people…that’s what everyone needs to keep in mind. These people are frauds and really just sick and greedy, nasty people.
Ron DeSantis Sucks
August 24, 2022 at 7:10 pm
Yeah, I can tell how much right wing nutjobs just want to brutalize people based on Ken’s statements. 99% of it I am, literally, for. And I wouldn’t even consider myself that left-wing. Center-left at most. Republicans just keep trying to drag the Overton Window to the right.
joey.
August 24, 2022 at 4:25 pm
Where are you on January 6? That was ok. GOP say defind the FBI. So you are the anti police.
Jerry
August 23, 2022 at 8:27 pm
Good. Get to watch Crist lose another statewide race. Lost to Rubio. Lost to Scott. And now will lose to DeSantis.
When will you Democrats stop nominating this loser?
TD
August 23, 2022 at 9:01 pm
When his last grifter consultant dies from old age.
Charlie Crist
August 23, 2022 at 9:52 pm
Trump was biggest loser in American political history. Tell us how he should walk free from his many crimes. Law and order/rule of law/ back the blue right? Yet he riled up a mob that attacked police and you people still love the filthy NY monger. You people full of poo poo…
Tom
August 24, 2022 at 8:35 am
Good stuff Jerry.
Chameleon lost to Graham years back. Perennial loser!
Chameleon, hypocrite, wannabe, loser, no character, sell out, perennial candidate, liar.
Tom
August 24, 2022 at 8:35 am
Good stuff Jerry.
Chameleon lost to Graham years back. Perennial loser!
Chameleon, hypocrite, wannabe, loser, no character, sell out, perennial candidate, liar.
Charlie Crist
August 24, 2022 at 9:18 am
You need a Fat Cammack ass stamp 🍩💋
Impeach Biden
August 23, 2022 at 9:17 pm
1900. Polls close in Florida.
1901. Crist declared the winner vs Fraud.
Wow. That was a butt kicking Nikki. Get a little humility training and remember to pack up your office. It’s Over!!!
1902. Charlie Crist becomes the sacrificial lamb to Ron DeSantis in November. The Red Tsunami is coming.
Charlie Crist
August 23, 2022 at 9:48 pm
Nikki Fried anchovy coming right up buddy. Yeah gonna get a scrub regardless.
impeach Biden
August 23, 2022 at 9:55 pm
Nikki needs work now Charlie. Mons Venus for her and when you lose in November, Wilton Manors for you.🤣
Impeach Biden
August 23, 2022 at 10:04 pm
Thanks to the FP moderator.😀
Charlie Crist
August 23, 2022 at 10:41 pm
You need Fat Cammack sit on your face…bare, unwiped azz🍩 This will teach you not to vote for GOP hogs.
Tom
August 23, 2022 at 11:01 pm
Good stuff impeach!
Chameleon, hypocrite, wannabe, loser, no character, sell out, perennial candidate, and liar!
Charlie Crist
August 23, 2022 at 11:40 pm
@Tom: Trump 40,000 lies, sexual assaults, election crimes out the yin yang, various frauds and thefts, inciting violence, espionage act related crimes. You need a Fat Cammack skull scrub as well…yeah carpet burn.🍩
Fred Hadley
August 23, 2022 at 11:20 pm
Nikki Fraud, who lied about fixing the pre-harvest sugarcane burns while accepting BIg Sugar money laundered through PACs, then accused the Sierra Club of bribing the Palm Beach Post reporters for their hit piece on Nikki, got the drubbing she deserved. Put that in your bong and smoke it!
Charlie Crist
August 23, 2022 at 11:36 pm
Now tell us about Trump crime spree…
Dan
August 23, 2022 at 11:38 pm
Republican turnout crushed liberals in school board races. Conservative-backed candidates winning all over the state. Many districts have flipped. Miami-Dade is now a conservative school district. Hillsborough and Sarasota counties also flipped conservative.
Something else that should concern Democrats is that many more Republicans than Democrats voted in the Florida primary despite no major GOP race at the top of the ballot.
Charlie Crist
August 23, 2022 at 11:44 pm
Who cares about stupid school boards. No impact on anything. Kids still getting woke… teachers do whatever they want…porn still accessable on mobile phone. Will start CRT clubs ..
Tom
August 24, 2022 at 6:16 am
Charlie, you have lost your mind.
Good job, make ass of your self like mental incest family, corsin and idiot Elliott. Enjoy, LMAO.
Charlie Crist
August 24, 2022 at 9:20 am
@Tom: Nobody knows what in the hell you are talking about half the time. Just nonsense..
Tom
August 24, 2022 at 3:27 pm
Retarded. Your bloviating has reached gas bag toxic.
You have no substance, just TRUMP.
Charlie Crist
August 24, 2022 at 8:19 pm
@Tom: You are a far right psycho…need incarceration. Hell, need euthanasia!!!
Ol' White Man
August 24, 2022 at 6:13 am
“Charlie Crist defeats Nikki Fried”
Which only goes to show you that, when the chips are down, Democrats vote for the old white man.
Need another example? How about Jerry Nadler?
Floridian RN
August 25, 2022 at 11:40 am
Fellow Dems and Moderate Republicans! Let’s pitch in and get Crist elected! Desantis is too extreme for our state, or any state. We need a centrist to help pull away from the race to be red or redder here. Enough! No one wins when we are at extremes. Return to debate and poll the public what is good and bad when it comes to policy. Rather than who is the Trumpiest. Look at Kansas- 60% of a red state constituents are against abortion ban there. People easily label themselves and are guided by the media they consume to affirm who they are. We have more in common than what separates us. I can’t stand Desantis because he feeds this narratives of us VS them. NO. We are all Floridians and we love the freaking beaches and sunsets here and we’re fighting some proxy battle set up by Fox News and the echo chamber that folks get caught into instead of talking to their neighbors or going outside. Desantis OUT. Crist IN.
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