Democratic Rep. Charlie Crist RESIGNS from the House to start campaigning against Ron

Charlie Crist resigned early from his House seat to be able to focus more on his efforts to unseat Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Floria’s 13th congressional district will go without a representative in the House as Crist vacated his seat early, effective Wednesday, in preparation for the November midterm elections.

While a Republican bloodbath is already expected in the 2022 midterms, Democrat‘s chances of keeping the lower chamber is further depleted as 31 of their members, including Crist, are not running for reelection for their House seats.

Although Crist’s statement on his early resignation did not include his reasoning, there are only two months before he goes head-to-head with Desantis. There are, of course, a few third party candidates running, but none will be able to beat out the two front runners.

Democratic Florida Representative Charlie Crist (pictured on August 25) is resigning from his House seat effective on Wednesday in crunch time before the election where he will attempt to unseat Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

‘But these achievements start and end with you, the people — my bosses — who have guided my work in Congress since Day One,’ Crist said in a statement.

DeSantis, who is highly popular among establishment and pro-Trump Republicans, is a favorite to win reelection in the Sunshine State. He is leading Crist, who became the Democratic nominee in last week’s primary elections, by 5 percentage points.

The first poll after the primary election last Tuesday, conducted by Impact Research, shows a closer-than-expected gap between Crist and DeSantis. Outside the 3.5 point margin of error, DeSantis is only ahead by 2.5 percentage points.

Some Republicans have signaled that they hope DeSantis runs for president in 2024 rather than former President Donald Trump making another bid for the White House.

Crist was first elected to his House seat in 2016 when he ousted Republican incumbent Representative David Jolly. He won reelection in 2018 and 2020.

DeSantis (pictured) is still favored to win his reelection as Florida governor, although some Republicans want him to run for president in 2024 rather than former President Donald Trump

His seat in Florida’s 13th congressional district spans from Clearwater to southern Pinellas, but it will now remain unrepresented in the House until the November midterms.

In that race to replace Crist, Republican Anna Paulina Luna, an Air Force veteran who was backed by Trump, will face Democrat Eric Lynn, the former Obama administration aide whom Crist endorsed.

Crist’s seat is one that will help decide the new makeup of Congress in the midterm election.

The 13th Congressional District became much more red-leaning after the redistricting process and the Cook Political Report now rates it as ‘likely Republican.’

Crist has faced criticism for heavily relying on the House’s proxy voting rule implemented during the coronavirus pandemic, which allowed each member to use a colleague to vote on their behalf rather than showing up to cast their vote in person.

But Crist, in a statement to the Tampa Bay Times, said he was proud of the work he achieved during is three terms, including legislation involving veterans and solar energy.

‘But these achievements start and end with you, the people — my bosses — who have guided my work in Congress since Day One,’ Crist said in the statement.

As Crist’s resignation takes effect Wednesday, it leaves the House at a 219-211 Democrat to Republican split with five vacancies.