TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist’s run for Congress as a Democrat is a little easier now that his primary opponent has dropped out of the race.
Eric Lynn announced Tuesday he will instead seek a seat in the state House instead of trying to represent the St. Petersburg area in Washington.
Lynn leaves the race with nearly $625,000 in his congressional campaign account. He entered the race three months before Crist announced his run.
Crist decided to run after Florida’s congressional maps were redrawn. His home district became more favorable for Democrats.
Crist served as governor for one term ending in 2011. He ran for Senate as an independent in 2010 after dropping out of the GOP primary against eventual winner Marco Rubio.
Crist lost a close race for governor as a Democrat in 2014.
