Nevertheless, the Tampa Bay area will always be home to political drama, strife and overall newsiness. From battles to claim local power to efforts to mitigate what many see as state overreach, headlines were grabbed from St. Pete to Tampa and everywhere in between.<\/p>\n
Here are ten of the top political stories from across the Tampa Bay region in 2025. Many offer glimpses into what may become top stories in the new year.<\/p>\n
1. Rays, Rays and more Rays<\/p>\n
It was actually 2024 when the Tampa Bay Rays saga faced its ultimate curve ball \u2014 Hurricane Milton and its driving tropical storm-force winds that ripped the roof from Tropicana Field, displacing the team for the entire 2025 Major League Baseball season and setting in motion the demise of a yearslong effort to strike a stadium deal in St. Petersburg.<\/p>\n Marred by cost overruns due to delays<\/a> in various government approvals \u2014 including bond approvals needed to move forward with the deal that got kicked down the road after the Rays decided to play in Tampa for the 2025 season \u2014 Rays leadership ultimately decided this March to end the agreement<\/a> with St. Pete and Pinellas County for a $1.3 billion stadium near the existing Tropicana Field.<\/p>\n In the meantime, the city was on the hook for $22.5 million<\/a> in roof repairs to a stadium that is headed for demolition anyway. Adding to critics\u2019 frustration, that cost rose even higher<\/a>, to the tune of $4 million. While repairing a roof on a doomed stadium seems like a waste of taxpayer money. \u2014 and maybe it is \u2014 the city had no choice. With the roof repairs, other facility repairs and cost overruns, work on the Trop came in at nearly $60 million. The price tag was particularly painful considering a calculated risk the city took in early 2024, when it reduced its insurance coverage on the Trop from $100 million to $25 million, with a $22 million deductible.<\/p>\n But the drama wasn\u2019t done. With a stadium deal dead, Rays ownership faced pressure to sell. And sell they did.<\/p>\n Previous principal owner Stu Sternberg finalized a $1.7 billion sale in late September to a new ownership team<\/a> led by Jacksonville home developer Patrick Zalupski, with Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Triple-A baseball team owner Ken Babby and Bill Cosgrove, who serves as the team\u2019s CEO.<\/p>\n There\u2019s much to come on the issue in 2026. The new team owners have said they are committed to identifying a new stadium site in the Tampa Bay region, with a preference for Tampa. Owners have said the site selection process is progressing<\/a> and they\u2019re confident a selection will be made soon.<\/p>\n And watch for the Rays\u2019 stadium debacle to plague St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch, who faces re-election in 2026, potentially<\/a> against former Governor and former U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, and definitely<\/a> against City Council member Brandi Gabbard, making for an especially competitive race between Democrats (though the race is technically non-partisan).<\/p>\n 2. Tragedy gives way to a new generation of leadership in Tampa<\/p>\n Tampa City Council member Gwendolyn Henderson passed away<\/a> at just 60 years old in June, leaving her District 5 seat vacant and prompting what would become a crowded Special Election to fill it.<\/p>\n Ultimately, grassroots activist Naya Young emerged victorious<\/a> in late October, defeating Thomas Scott in a runoff. Her victory was resounding; she took 61% of the vote, though turnout was low at just over 11%.<\/p>\n Before the runoff, though, the race featured an eclectic bunch of candidates<\/a> from various walks of life, including Henderson\u2019s daughter, Ariel Amirah Danley. In all, more than a dozen names appeared on the September ballot, leading Young and Scott to advance to the runoff with relatively low support in the Primary. Scott was the top finisher, with 27% of the Primary vote, while Young received 13%.<\/p>\n But what\u2019s potentially most impactful \u2014 or at least telling \u2014 is that Young was the lesser-funded candidate and beat an opponent who had held elected office previously. Scott previously served as both a City Council member and a Hillsborough County Commissioner and had powerful support from people connected to Mayor Jane Castor and former Mayor Bob Buckhorn.<\/p>\n Given voters\u2019 rejection of a candidate perceived as a Castor\/Buckhorn ally, political watchers in the region are already questioning whether Buckhorn\u2019s plan to run again for Mayor may face some hiccups. But with that race not coming until 2027, a lot could still change.<\/p>\n 3. St. Pete Mayor\u2019s race takes shape <\/p>\n About four years ago, St. Petersburg Mayor Welch was inaugurated \u2014 at his home, in a socially distanced ceremony because he had COVID \u2014 and he became the city\u2019s first Black Mayor. Supporters then would likely not have guessed that by the closing months of his first term, lengthened a year due to a voter referendum that moved city elections to even years, Welch would be facing a fight for his political life.<\/p>\n Fueled by what detractors have described as an ineffective administration and a series of missteps ranging from slow storm response<\/a> in 2024 to the breakdown of the Tampa Bay Rays stadium deal, Welch will likely face opposition<\/a> from a variety of credible challengers, though none so far (not even Welch) have officially filed for the 2026 contest.<\/p>\n Former Gov. Crist, more recently a former U.S. Representative, has said he\u2019s mulling a bid<\/a> and is expected to jump into the race officially after the new year. He\u2019s already launched a political committee<\/a> to raise funds (Michelle Schorsch is the chair of that committee; beyond her professional credentials, she is also the wife of Florida Politics publisher Peter Schorsch). City Council member Gabbard has also said she will challenge Welch. All three are registered Democrats, though the race is technically nonpartisan.<\/p>\n Even in a nonpartisan race, facing intraparty opposition is rare, and it punctuates the strife Welch has faced in his first term. It\u2019s also looking like he may face a Republican. Former Fire Chief Jim Large, who faced accusations he was ultimately cleared of and later retired, is rumored to be considering a run himself, though he has not yet confirmed the rumors.<\/p>\n In any case, St. Pete voters in 2026 are all but guaranteed a competitive local race that will cost in the millions to win.<\/p>\n 4. Bye-bye street art, hello loopholes <\/p>\n Like other areas across the state, the city of St. Petersburg was forced<\/a> this year to remove five pieces of local street art, including a progressive Pride mural<\/a> in the Grand Central District and a Black History Matters mural near the Woodson African American History Museum.<\/p>\n The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) removed the murals at the city\u2019s expense.<\/p>\n The removals, which came after the city appealed to the state to keep them, prompted local protests.<\/p>\n Two local pastors \u2014 Revs.\u00a0Andy Oliver\u00a0and\u00a0Benedict Atherton-Zeman\u00a0of Allendale United Methodist Church and the Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg, respectively \u2014\u00a0were arrested<\/a> after sitting on the location of the Black history mural on 9th Avenue South and refusing police orders to stop blocking the roadway as they were protesting the mural\u2019s removal. The pastors were later released.<\/p>\n The other murals removed include the Fluid Structures mural located at the University of South Florida St. Pete campus, which was\u00a0created by students<\/a>; the\u00a0Common Ground mural<\/a>, which includes brightly colored geometric shapes that actually decreased traffic accidents at the intersection by 70%, according to Mayor Welch; and the Crux mural in Child\u2019s Park, which was painted with local children and designed specifically<\/a>\u00a0to reduce speed and increase safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.<\/p>\n The removals happened in September. In December, the city sought to make amends for the losses by installing<\/a> rainbow bike racks in the Grand Central District along Central Avenue and 25th Street, where the progressive Pride mural was located.<\/p>\n 5. Rob Lorei dies<\/p>\n Retired journalist\u00a0Rob Lorei, who was among the founding members of WMNF Community Radio and served as host of WEDU\u2019s Florida This Week for nearly 24 years, passed away in August<\/a> following a battle with cancer.<\/p>\n He was 70 years old.<\/p>\n Lorei most recently served as anchor of Florida This Week on WEDU, the local PBS station. Each week, he hosted a panel of guests, including other local journalists, political strategists, political activists, scholars and other experts in various areas. Lorei was known for ensuring balanced viewpoints, sharing the camera with Democrats, Republicans and nonpartisans alike.<\/p>\n Lorei served as host until March, when he\u00a0announced he would be stepping down<\/a>. It was then that Lorei also\u00a0revealed his cancer diagnosis<\/a>.<\/p>\n 6. Tampa Pride falls victim to war on woke\u00a0<\/p>\n Tampa Pride announced\u00a0in September<\/a>\u00a0that it was taking \u201ca one-year hiatus\u201d from its annual Pride Festival and Diversity Parade, citing \u201ccurrent political and economic climate.\u201d<\/p>\n The group posted a letter Aug. 1 to Carrie West, the group\u2019s former President, saying it would not be renewing her contract after it expired at the end of the month.<\/p>\n The announced cancellation also cited \u201cchallenges with corporate sponsorships, reductions in county, state and federal grant funding, and the discontinuation of DEI programs.\u201d<\/p>\n The Tampa Pride cancellation came as GOP leaders at the state and federal level were pushing back against LGBTQ+ issues, particularly transgender issues. The state has also been cracking down on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in local governments, including through Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia\u2019s work in the newly created state Department of Government Efficiency, which targeted St. Pete this year.<\/p>\n But St. Pete Pride, which hosts the largest pride parade in the Southeast U.S., has vowed that its 2026 events will continue. St. Pete Pride said the group \u201cstill has events coming later this year\u201d and that planning \u201cfor our 2026 celebration is already underway.\u201d<\/p>\n 7. Clearwater rejects \u2018Charlie Kirk Way\u2019 <\/p>\n At the end of September, in what likely would have otherwise been a quiet meeting, Clearwater residents, stakeholders and others packed City Hall so tightly, many were moved to an overflow room. The reason: Charlie Kirk.<\/p>\n Clearwater City Council member Ryan Cotton had proposed renaming a major downtown road<\/a> after the late conservative activist. His motion to consider it died for lack of a second, but that didn\u2019t stop the dozens of concerned citizens who showed up to oppose the move from speaking up.<\/p>\n Cotton said his idea to rename Court Street to \u201cCharlie Kirk Way\u201d was to recognize the importance of First Amendment rights. But when the matter died, residents almost didn\u2019t have the opportunity to exercise theirs. Without an item before them to consider, Mayor Bruce Rector initially planned to skip public comment. After what can only be described as robust protests from those gathered, he allowed it anyway.<\/p>\n Several speakers cried. Some recounted personal stories about being subjected to racist vitriol, misogynistic rhetoric or other hurtful tropes they said Kirk perpetuated and encouraged. Some vowed to ensure Cotton was voted out of office. All expressed outrage over the attempt to name a street \u2014 in a city for which Kirk had no ties \u2014 after someone who stirred so much controversy.<\/p>\n While the \u201cCharlie Kirk Way\u201d conversation isn\u2019t likely to reemerge, renaming streets in general could come up in 2026. Rector suggested bringing a discussion to a future workshop evaluating the city\u2019s procedure for renaming roads and other amenities to better understand when such action is appropriate.<\/p>\n 8. Chris Latvala\u2019s health scare<\/p>\n In late September, Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala found himself battling a health annoyance for which few of us have been spared: abdominal discomfort. But for Latvala, it was more than a bad oyster or a particularly spicy batch of curry. The persistent, intense pain sent him to the emergency room, triggering a weekslong fight for his life<\/a>.<\/p>\n Latvala experienced an SMA dissection, where the superior mesenteric artery tears. The SMA supplies blood to part of the large intestine, much of the small intestine and part of the colon. A dissection requires highly specialized care. It\u2019s an emergent condition, but Latvala had initially responded well to monitoring, rest and treatment. He was discharged from the hospital on Monday, Sept. 29, one week after his pain had initially begun.<\/p>\n But by the next night, Latvala faced a grim prognosis. A spike in his blood pressure that would not abate sent him back to the ER. This time, imaging revealed the tear had worsened. Much worse.<\/p>\n Latvala received care from a certified vascular surgeon who fully understood the complexity of Latvala\u2019s condition, which is exceedingly rare, especially for a man of Latvala\u2019s age. SMA dissections are more common in women and typically occur in a person\u2019s 50s.<\/p>\n Latvala was transported to UF Health Shands Hospital, known for its vascular surgery program, and placed under the care of a vascular surgery expert.<\/p>\n Even when he was finally released from the hospital after the ultimate health scare, Latvala\u2019s fight wasn\u2019t done. He had to head back to Shands for even more observation, treatment and recovery.<\/p>\n He\u2019s since returned to the dais, and he\u2019s more grateful than ever for his life. That includes his loving family; his mom\u2019s request for prayers reached across entire oceans. Most of all, Latvala\u2019s love for his wife Bianca\u00a0was put on full display as he praised her, along with God, for seeing to his care and recovery.<\/p>\n 9. Buckhorn vs. Carlson feud reignites ahead of 2027 contest <\/p>\n Bob Buckhorn is a legendary figure in Tampa politics. He\u2019s charismatic to an extent that demands attention, if not always respect. For those who can\u2019t find it in them to respect the former Tampa Mayor, it seemed they\u2019d be done with him when his term ended in May 2019.<\/p>\n Think again.<\/p>\n Buckhorn, for much of 2025, has been teasing a bid to return to his old office, only officially saying he was definitely running earlier this month in an interview with Florida Politics<\/a> (he had said so earlier in the year while speaking to a group of college students, but confirmed later that it wasn\u2019t an official announcement).<\/p>\n To be sure, Buckhorn wields a level of power in public and behind closed doors far greater than others who have come before and many who will come after. And his supporters are aplenty. But so are his detractors, and his intention to run for Mayor again in 2027 sets up a battle royale with his biggest one: Tampa City Council member Bill Carlson.<\/p>\n In May, Buckhorn\u2019s return to politics already appeared imminent<\/a>, as the guest of honor at a lunch featuring a discussion with him about \u201cwhat\u2019s next for Tampa and for this campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n Carlson frequently feuded with Buckhorn when he last served, and he continued that feud with now-Mayor Castor when she succeeded Buckhorn with his blessing. Carlson appears well aware that his days of battling with Buckhorn are far from over.<\/p>\n In July, a poll unattributed to any potential candidate went out to Tampa voters asking about the 2027 mayoral race. There were curious omissions. In a question asking respondents about their opinion of\u00a0 Carlson, the only responses available were \u201cvery favorable,\u201d \u201csomewhat favorable,\u201d \u201cneutral,\u201d or \u201cno opinion.\u201d There was no option to indicate an unfavorable opinion.<\/p>\n Asked whether he sent the poll or knew who did<\/a>, Carlson said he didn\u2019t and suggested it was Buckhorn who may have sent it.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, that poll came a couple of months after an internal poll from Mercury Communications showed Buckhorn leading a five-way field for Mayor in 2027, including against Carlson. Despite the crowded field of options, Buckhorn captured 49% support in the poll<\/a>, with Carlson trailing at 22%.<\/p>\n And Buckhorn is raising funds aggressively. His third-quarter fundraising through his political committee, Friends of Bob Buckhorn<\/a>, showed more than $1 million already raised<\/a>. He also has some earned media wins to focus on, including one that will regularly remind voters of his banner accomplishments \u2014 the massive renovation of Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park and the extension of the nearby Riverwalk.<\/p>\n On the former, Buckhorn\u2019s name is now literally on the main building<\/a>, in huge, hard-to-miss letters.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a new time in Tampa, and there have been signs that the Buckhorn era of dominance may not be as strong as it once was. First \u2014 and this goes back further than 2025 \u2014 a Castor-backed (and by proxy, Buckhorn-backed) attempt to unseat Carlson with Blake Casper, a Republican, blew up miserably<\/a>. Efforts to defeat City Council member Lynn Hurtak were also unsuccessful<\/a>. And most recently, voters rejected the Castor-backed Scott in the Special Election for District 5.<\/p>\n While the Tampa mayoral race isn\u2019t until 2027, 2026 is sure to pack a pretty big punch, even if much of the politicking will still be behind the scenes.<\/p>\n 10. Cross Bay Ferry rebirth<\/p>\n Things were not looking good for the Cross Bay Ferry, a seasonal premium transportation option that shuttled riders between downtown St. Pete and downtown Tampa across Tampa Bay. It operated for seven years and was a huge win from the Rick Kriseman era in St. Pete \u2014 the former St. Petersburg Mayor was the project\u2019s biggest champion. But the service was canceled this year after operator HMS Ferries failed to meet the terms of its contract by using a replacement boat.<\/p>\n But rejoice, coordinated work between city and county governments, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) and private operators has again made the ferry a reality<\/a>.<\/p>\n The PSTA voted earlier this year to move forward with a $1.5 million purchase of a 97-foot vessel named Bay Breeze from San Francisco. And because the cost, along with refurbishment, will come in at less than the $4.8 million federal grant funding the purchase, PSTA will have about $2 million left to buy a second ferry, one expected to be smaller and zippier. The new boat will offer about 100 more seats<\/a> on board than the previous ferry.<\/p>\n Additionally, Hubbard Marina will operate the new Tampa Bay Ferry, as it is being rebranded.<\/p>\n While the new ferry is still subject to various safety and sea tests, it\u2019s expected to get the all-clear, and the revitalized service could launch again as soon as the Summer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Let\u2019s get one thing clear: 2025 was, thankfully, NOT 2024. Along with the rest of the state, the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":98941,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[52111,3814,52112,47320,3300,52113,3347,407,52114,3403,52115,3424,52116,5756,30124,2346,28777,609,3813,52117,52118,135,18506,3815,610,137,136,1195,611,8125],"class_list":{"0":"post-98940","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tampa","8":"tag-bill-carlson","9":"tag-bill-cosgrove","10":"tag-blake-casper","11":"tag-bob-buckhorn","12":"tag-brandi-gabbard","13":"tag-bruce-rector","14":"tag-charlie-crist","15":"tag-charlie-kirk","16":"tag-chris-latvala","17":"tag-clearwater-city-council","18":"tag-court-street","19":"tag-cross-bay-ferry","20":"tag-gwendolyn-henderson","21":"tag-jane-castor","22":"tag-ken-babby","23":"tag-ken-welch","24":"tag-lynn-hurtak","25":"tag-naya-young","26":"tag-patrick-zalupski","27":"tag-rob-lorei","28":"tag-stu-sternberg","29":"tag-tampa","30":"tag-tampa-bay-ferry","31":"tag-tampa-bay-rays","32":"tag-tampa-city-council","33":"tag-tampa-headlines","34":"tag-tampa-news","35":"tag-tampa-pride","36":"tag-thomas-scott","37":"tag-tropicana-field"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98940","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98940"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98940\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98941"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98940"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98940"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98940"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/25JF-7.9.25-FL-Politics-Ads-728X90-V2.png\")
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