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TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) Democrats are throwing all their might behind former Florida Governor Charlie Crist in hopes of regaining control over the state.

Republicans have had control of theFloridaLegislature and governors office since 1999 and have used their power to restrict abortions, loosen gun laws, strip state workers of benefits, allow private school vouchers and enact a slew of other policy changes that Democrats opposed but could do nothing to stop.

Now Democrats, desperate for relevancy again, are trying to stop the Republican agenda by defeating Gov. Rick Scott while essentially ignoring the rest of the ballot.

And theyre doing it with a candidate they worked to defeat in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2010 Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat Charlie Crist, a 58-year-old politician who has been a Democrat for 20 months. Crist won the governors race in 2006 as a Republican before leaving office after one term to run for the U.S. Senate, first with the GOP and then as an independent.

Because Democrats have been out of power for so long, theyre grasping for any kind of formula to win, said Daniel Smith, a University ofFloridapolitical science professor. Its incredibly risky. If they lose, should Rick Scott win again with Charlie Crist as the nominee, where does the Democratic Party go?

Democrats dominatedFloridapolitics for decades until Republicans took over the state Senate in 1994 and the House in 1996. Jeb Bush won the 1998 governors race and Republicans have since then been virtually unimpeded in passing a conservative agenda. Democrats still have a 39 to 36 percent lead in registered voters and President Barack Obama carried the state in 2008 and 2012, but U.S. Sen. Bill Nelsons victories in 2000, 2006 and 2012 have been about the partys only highlights in state races.

Since Bush was elected, Democrats have lost 11 of 12 Cabinet races and lost the U.S. Senate seat Democrat Bob Graham gave up when he retired in 2005. Republicans outnumber Democrats 17-10 inFloridascongressional delegation, 75-45 in the state House and 26-14 in the Senate.

Nelsons success has been in part because hes a moderate. Also, since hes been elected, his challengers former U.S. Reps. Katherine Harris and Connie Mack IV failed to generate enthusiasm for their campaigns. And Democrats tend to turn out in higher numbers in presidential election years, a fact that benefited Obama.

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Ex-Republican Crist Is Florida Democrats Big Hope