ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Former Florida Republican Governor Charlie Crist is officially a Democrat.

Joined by a gaggle of news media, Crist on Thursday filed his paperwork at the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections office in downtown St. Petersburg.

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 added there were a few issues he would handle differently than 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.