ST. PETERSBURG — Mayor Rick Kriseman, who is term-limited come January, announced on social media Tuesday that he will not run for Congress.
Kriseman, a Democrat, said he “strongly considered” running to replace U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist (D-St. Petersburg), who announced a 2022 gubernatorial run, in Florida’s 13th Congressional District, which includes St. Petersburg.
“Mindful of the important work that remains, the amount of time left in my term and the time commitments and requirements (lots of fundraising!) of being a strong congressional candidate, I have decided not to be a candidate for the open U.S. House seat in Pinellas County,” Kriseman wrote. “I am truly appreciative of the encouragement I’ve received to run, and given the appeal of such an opportunity, I strongly considered it.”
Eric Lynn, a national security advisor running as a Democrat, was the first to jump into the race in early May. He was a candidate for the seat in 2016 but stepped out of the race when Crist ran.
Other Democrats running include Ben Diamond, a Democratic state representative, and Christian Hotchkiss.
On the Republican side, Anna Paulina Luna, who lost the election to Crist in 2020, has announced she’ll run again. Frank Craft is running as a Libertarian.
The mayor said he does not yet know what he will pursue once he leaves City Hall.