In 2006 Charlie Crist kept the governor's mansion in Republican hands for another four years by defeating former U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, a Democrat from Tampa, with 52.2 percent of the vote.

In May 2009, Crist announced his intention to run for the U.S. Senate in 2010. He is considered a heavy favorite in a primary that also includes former House Speaker Marco Rubio.

Crist first ran for public office in 1992, when he was elected to the Florida Senate. He won a second term in 1994. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 1998, losing to incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Graham.

Crist was elected the state's education commissioner in 2000, defeating Democrat George Sheldon and an unaffiliated candidate with 54 percent of the vote. He was elected attorney general with 53 percent of the vote against Democrat Buddy Dyer in 2002.

(Last updated by Brendan Farrington on May 18, 2009.)

Martinez was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004, defeating Democrat Betty Castor with 49 percent of the vote.

Mel Martinez has said he will not seek re-election in 2010.

He served as the Orange County chairman from 1998 to 2001.

(Last updated by Brendan Farrington on March 24, 2009.)

Bill Nelson was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000, defeating Republican U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum, 51 percent to 46 percent.

He was re-elected in 2006 with 60 percent of the vote over Republican Katherine Harris.

He was elected to the state Legislature in 1968 at the age of 26. In 1978, he was elected to Congress, winning 62 percent of the vote in central Florida's 9th District, representing Florida's Space Coast. He won re-election five times with only token opposition.

Nelson suffered his first political setback in 1990 when he was crushed in the Democratic primary for governor by former U.S. Sen. Lawton Chiles. Nelson had entered the race assured he would be the party's candidate, but when it appeared he might not be able to defeat incumbent Republican Gov. Bob Martinez, party loyalists persuaded Chiles to come out of retirement. Chiles won nearly 70 percent of the primary vote.

Nelson returned to politics in 1994, a difficult year for Democrats nationally, and won election to the vacant state insurance commissioner's seat, narrowly defeating Republican Tim Ireland. In a rematch four years later, Nelson easily won re-election over Ireland.

(Last updated by Brendan Farrington on March 20, 2009.)