Rep. Charlie Crist cruised to a primary victory Tuesday night in Florida, NBC News projects,  answering the one big question Democrats have fretted about for months: Who will be the underdog to face popular Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis?

Heading into Election Day, few Democratic insiders and political observers gave either Crist or his primary opponent, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried much of a chance in November, citing every recent public poll showing DeSantis leading Crist.