Former first lady Carole Crist becomes a Democrat

2010, JAY NOLAN/STAFF

Charlie Crist called his wife, Carole, "independent minded and very bright" and said she feels more comfortable in the Democratic Party.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Tbo.com
Published: October 10, 2011

TALLAHASSEE — Carole Crist, wife of former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, is now a Democrat.

Crist said Monday that Carole Crist changed her voter registration last week. The former governor also left the Republican Party late in his term but registered with no party affiliation.

Crist called his wife "independent minded and very bright" and said she feels more comfortable in the Democratic Party.

The former governor says he intends to remain without a party. He left the Republicans in April 2010 during his unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate. He was trailing tea party favorite Marco Rubio badly in the polls leading up to the GOP primary and decided to run as an independent. Rubio beat Crist in the general election.

The Crists met in 2007 during his first year in office.