Charlie Crist defeats Nikki Fried, will face Ron DeSantis in General Election

Crist heads into the General Election at a severe cash disadvantage.

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.