St. Pete voters face a crucial choice between current Mayor Ken Welch and former Governor Charlie Crist in the upcoming November election.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It’s up to St. Pete voters to choose who will be serving as mayor next in the November elections. The choice will be between two experienced public servants.

Following the 2026 Florida Primary Election on Aug. 18, St. Pete residents will have to choose between two candidates: current Mayor Ken Welch and former Florida Governor Charlie Crist.



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This comes after Crist was able to top the results with 18,685 votes (35.29%). Welch secured the runoff with 10,875 (20.54%) out of a total of 52,942 ballots cast in the mayoral race during the primary, based on preliminary voting results.

Other candidates who were running for mayor of St. Pete were: 

Former Chief of the St. Petersburg Fire Department Jim Large got 18.06%, with 9,561 votesSt. Pete Council Member Brandi Gabbard got 17.48%, with 9,255 votesFormer President of the St. Petersburg Branch of NAACP Maria Scruggs got 5.18%, with 2,743 votesFormer Shore Acres Neighborhood Association President Kevin Batdorf got 3.44%, with 1,823 votes


Welch highlights his leadership and post-hurricane recovery efforts

For Welch, next steps now include telling people there is a runoff and that his administration is about “inclusive progress,” he said during an interview with 10 Tampa Bay News on Wednesday.

Welch said his message remains the same after last night’s election results. He added that he is not surprised by the results due to all the candidates who were running for his seat.

For Welch, what voters should know is “that when our city needed a leader during the toughest time really in our history, I was that leader who moved us forward.” He added that his administration plans to continue with that. 

The mayor highlighted that his track record as a leader helps him stand out from Charlie Crist, whom he said on primary election night has been absent in the community throughout the recent trying years due to COVID and hurricanes. Last night, Welch also touted the low crime rates in St. Pete.

“The last four and a half years have been the most challenging that our city has faced, starting with COVID and now five hurricanes, how we recover, the Historic Gas Plant, the housing issue we worked on. We got a solid track record and a plan to move forward,” he said.

Welch’s platform would be a continuation of his term in office since 2022, inclusive of his vision outlined in the St. Pete Pillars of Progress, which focus on education and youth opportunities, equitable development, arts and business opportunities, neighborhood health and safety, environment, infrastructure and resilience and housing opportunities for all.

The current mayor has faced criticism after the Rays-Hines deal, which aimed to build a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays and redevelop the Historic Gas Plant District. It lost momentum following the 2024 storms that impacted St. Pete, including Tropicana Field. As a result, the contract ended, and the Rays are now actively considering relocation options. 

When asked about the Rays, the mayor acknowledged that people “understand” the situation. He noted that the process led to collaboration among municipal and county officials and the baseball team. 

He also mentioned that Tropicana Field has been repaired and stated, “The Rays have a place to play until 2028, and if they need it for a couple of years afterward, I’m open to having that conversation.”


Crist highlights his experience as governor and attorney general

During an interview with 10 Tampa Bay News on Wednesday, Charlie Crist credited last night’s results to disappointment with the current mayor, stating it was a “real vote of no confidence.”

For Crist, his next steps will focus on being himself and continuing to work, adding that he wants to try to bring the Rays back, “something he doesn’t do.”

Crist highlighted his long experience in public office. He said that when he was governor of Florida (2007-2011) and when he was the state’s attorney general (2003-2007), he fought for over 400 cities across the state, adding that “I can do it for one.”

“We’ll do a better job than he did,” Crist said about Welch. “We just need competent leadership.”

Crist added that he wants to be mayor because he loves St. Pete and its people. He also believes the city should not have lost a deal with Moffit and criticized Welch’s administration regarding the Rays-Hines deal woes.

According to Crist’s campaign website, his campaign’s pillars include: improving communications by the local government, focusing on affordability, finding “a better way” to respond and recover from hurricanes, leading “the charge on economic development,” and education.