ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (December 13, 2012)--Joined by a gaggle of reporters, former Republican Florida Gov. Charlie Crist filed paperwork at the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections office in downtown St. Petersburg, Fla. to become a Democrat.

Afterward, Crist joked with elections workers and held a short news conference outside.

Crist said he "feels comfortable" as a Democrat but remained mum on whether he would challenge Republican Governor Rick Scott.

Crist said there were a few issues he would handle differently from when he was governor including his signing of a petition banning same-sex marriage.

He said Thursday that he wouldn't sign that petition today.

Crist was elected governor as a Republican and then ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as an independent.

He tweeted Friday night that he was becoming a Democrat.