PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Democrat Charlie Crist won re-election to U.S. House in Florida's 13th Congressional District on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.
Republican Anna Paulina Luna challenged Crist for the congressional seat.
Crist serves his hometown of St. Petersburg as a congressman representing Florida's 13th Congressional District. The District 13 seat includes St. Petersburg, Largo and Clearwater. He defeated a Republican incumbent in 2016.
"It's an amazing night. First and foremost, I want to thank the voters of Pinellas County. I'm humbled and very grateful to have won again. It means a lot to me. It means a lot to Pinellas County, apparently," said Crist.
His campaign said they decided not to hold a public election night watch party due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in Florida.
On Election Day, Crist visited the Coliseum polling site with local elected officials including Commissioner Janet Long, Commissioner Charlie Justice, Commissioner Charlie Justice, Rep. Ben Diamond and County Commission Candidate Rene Flowers.
Crist has served as a State Senator, Commissioner of Education, Attorney General and Florida's 44th Governor.
"Public service, I think, it's a calling and it's something I've done for a long time and I'm honored to have the opportunity to do it some more," said Crist.
Anna Paulina Luna hosted a watch party at Island Way Grill in Clearwater.
She considers herself a "strong, independent leader." She said she was raised by a single mother in Southern California's low-income neighborhoods.
She joined the Air Force at age 19. She spent a total of six years in the military including five years on active duty.
She is a small business owner and lives in St. Petersburg with her husband.
