The St. Petersburg mayor’s race has narrowed to a duel between former allies, with incumbent Ken Welch placing a distant second to former Florida Gov. and U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist in Tuesday’s primary.
Crist, with a record $2 million fundraising haul, comfortably led a field of six candidates, winning about 35% of the primary vote. Welch finished second, with about 21% of the vote and a daunting path forward.
A triumphant Crist took the lectern at Cassis restaurant along downtown St. Petersburg’s ritzy Beach Drive as the crowd chanted, “Charlie, Charlie, Charlie.”
“I’m full of gratitude and no attitude,” Crist said, touting his nearly 15-point lead over Welch.
Crist only spoke for about three minutes, thanking his supporters for their time and donations and turning his attention to the weeks leading up to the Nov. 3 runoff. He said he was eager to continue campaigning, even after a commanding primary victory.
“This,” Crist said, “is a good night.”
The race now pits a political heavyweight against a history-making incumbent mayor.
Welch advanced from the primary field five years ago with 39% of the vote on his way to a resounding general election win to become the city’s first Black mayor.
This Tuesday felt different.
Yet Welch was joyous at his election night watch party, held at the St. Petersburg Association of Fire Fighters headquarters. His supporters, including Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers and Gulfport City Council member Jennifer Webb, cheered and surrounded Welch as he took to the lectern.
After a “five-against-one” primary, Welch said, “Now it’s down to one opponent and a clear choice on the path we take as a city.”
He wasted no time calling out Crist for being out of town during 2024’s one-two punch of hurricanes, skipping debates and speaking in platitudes, not plans.
“I’m looking forward to, finally, a substantive debate on what matters, our vision, our plans and our priorities, not political sound-bites and vague promises on affordability and outright falsehoods,” Welch said. “The people deserve to know exactly what they will get in their next mayor.”
After his victory speech, Crist spoke to the media and was asked about Welch’s comments that Crist isn’t sufficiently invested in St. Pete.
“I wish he weren’t so negative, you know, he ought to feel good about where he ended up tonight and ought to be positive,” Crist said. “We need more positivity in our city and in our country, and I’m not going to be negative on him tonight, because our country and our city deserve better.
“I’m better than that, and he should be, too.”
Retired St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Chief Jim Large and two-term City Council member Brandi Gabbard, both considered dark horse candidates, came in third and fourth, respectively. Large and Gabbard won around 17% each.
Former NAACP St. Petersburg branch president and retired jail administrator Maria Scruggs placed fifth with 5% of votes. Former Shore Acres Civic Association President Kevin Batdorf finished last with 3.5%.
Tuesday’s turnout was around 30.7%. As the first mayoral race timed with state and federal races, that was slightly more than the turnout for Welch’s first mayor’s race in 2021. Voters in 2022 decided to move city elections to even-numbered years.
City voter turnout in the August 2021 primary was under 28%.
