TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — (AP) – U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist is resigning his seat in Congress to focus on his gubernatorial campaign against Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

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Crist said his resignation will be effective at the end of the day Wednesday.

He secured the Democratic nomination for governor last week and has named United Teachers of Dade President Karla Hernandez-Mats as his pick for lieutenant governor.

Watch: Crist vs. DeSantis: Match-up for Florida’s governor race set for November

Crist was elected to his St. Petersburg-area congressional seat in 2016.

Republican Anna Paulina Luna will face Democrat Eric Lynn for the seat in November.

Watch: Crist calls out DeSantis after securing Democratic nomination for governor

Lynn worked in former President Barack Obama’s administration.

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Video: Crist calls out DeSantis after securing Democratic nomination for governor Charlie Crist was on the campaign trail Wednesday, meeting with voters in his home city of Saint Petersburg. (James Tutten, WFTV.com/WFTV)