Elected Officials Organizations Newspapers In April 2010 and while still in office as Governor of Florida, Charlie Crist left the Republican Party to run for U.S. Senate as an Independent.

[136] Crist hoped to draw strong support from Florida's more than 1.6 million registered black voters, an effort that was challenging with regards to his previous political career as a Republican.

[137] Scott and Crist met in a debate on October 15, held by the Florida Press Association at Broward College.

[143] At this debate, Scott refused to take the stage for seven minutes because Crist had a small electric fan under his lectern.

[3] With the loss, Crist became the first candidate in Florida history to lose statewide elections as a Democrat, as a Republican, and as an Independent.