St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch reacts to an allegation against him on social media, and fundraising totals ahead of the 2026 primary reveal potential leaders in Florida races.


St. Pete mayor reacts to allegations on social media

The St. Pete mayoral race is starting to get personal. Mayor Ken Welch on Tuesday called on challenger Charlie Crist to condemn and deny a social media post that alleged Welch had an affair with a former staff member.

The allegation was made by Peter Schorsch, the husband of Crist’s campaign chair.

In a video posted to social media, Welch said Schorsch needs to hold the people in his campaign accountable.

“In 25 years of public service, no one has ever made such an allegation because I don’t work that way. So now I’m speaking directly to Charlie Crist. Charlie, Peter is your guy. Stop hiding, condemn the lie publicly and unequivocally,” Welch said.

Welch’s remarks come as the candidates running for St. Pete took to the stage yet again Tuesday for the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club debate.

Welch, St. Pete City Council Member Brandi Gabbard, businessman Kevin Batdorf, and jail administrator Maria Scruggs were in attendance.

Crist was invited but chose not to attend.

Former St. Pete Fire Chief Jim Large did not respond to the event invitation.

The mayoral election is scheduled for August 18.

Florida fundraising totals reveal leaders ahead of primary

As state candidates for Congress are making their final appeals for votes, Political Connections checks in on the fundraising efforts of the major candidates.

Republican Senator Ashley Moody is widely expected to retain her seat in the November election.

But the latest campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission show she’s losing the race for campaign contributions by millions of dollars.

Her campaign, Moody for Florida, had raised $10.8 million and had more than $8 million cash on hand at the end of June.

But her Democratic opponent, retired Army Lt. Colonel Alex Vindman, known for testifying during the first impeachment of Donald Trump in 2019, is among the top 15 Senate candidates nationally when it comes to raising money.

His campaign, Alex Vindman for Florida, raised more than $14.6 million and had more than $7 million cash on hand at the end of June.

Democratic Florida State Representative Angie Nixon, who is also running in the Democratic primary, has raised $625,000.

The newly redrawn 14th Congressional District in Tampa Bay has also attracted millions of dollars in donations. It’s currently held by Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor, who’s raised nearly $2 million so far. Republicans Mike Beltran and Kevin Steele have also raised more than $2 million as they vie to win the party’s nomination for the seat.

And in Central Florida, in the 9th Congressional District, also redrawn by Republicans, Democratic incumbent Darren Soto has raised roughly $2 million.

There is a pool of Republican hopefuls seeking their party’s nomination, including Thomas Chalifoux, who has raised more than $3 million.

Florida’s primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 18.