Charles Joseph Crist Jr. is an American attorney and politician who served as the U.S. representative from Florida's 13th congressional district from 2017 to 2022. He also served as the 44th governor of Florida from 2007 to 2011. Crist has been a member of the Democratic Party since 2012. He began his political career as a Republican before becoming an independent in 2010 and a Democrat in 2012.