St. Petersburg, Florida

A Democratic-backed super PAC has poured $2 million into ads attacking Florida Sen. Ashley Moody over her record on releasing Jeffrey Epstein's files, featuring survivor Marina Lacerda questioning Moody's priorities. The ad notes Moody joined other Republicans in blocking a September 2025 measure tied to the defense budget, but omits that the Senate later approved a standalone release bill by unanimous consent. The National Republican Senatorial Committee called the ads false and misleading, saying Moody ultimately supported transparency legislation. Epstein-related ads have run in 63 congressional races nationally, totaling $76 million.

With Election Day days away, Moody faces Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon, a democratic socialist who accuses Moody of refusing to debate and of involvement in misappropriating $10 million in Medicaid funds, which Moody denies. Moody has campaigned with gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds, branding Nixon a communist, a label Nixon rejects.

Florida lawmakers passed more than 200 bills this session, with a batch of new laws on crime and public safety set to take effect October 1. Among the most notable is HB 429, which broadens the criteria for classifying someone as a criminal gang member, allowing designation based on social media activity, repeated association with known gang members, or identification by a parent, guardian, or spouse. Critics, including State Rep. Michele Rayner, warned the law could sweep up people not actually involved in gang activity.

Also taking effect is HB 397, sponsored by State Rep. Dan Daley, which creates a new criminal offense for violating pretrial "no-contact" orders in violent crime cases such as murder, assault, stalking, kidnapping, robbery, and sexual battery, and allows warrantless arrests when probable cause exists. These two measures join ten other new laws addressing rental fraud, license plates, animal cruelty, and firearms.

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, who trails former Gov. Charlie Crist in polling and campaign fundraising after finishing behind him in the August primary, is making his case for re-election ahead of the November runoff. Welch says being outspent, partly amid a scandal involving a former PAC treasurer accused of misusing $200,000 in campaign funds, allowed opponents to distort his record. The FBI has located the former treasurer, who faces a hearing in Pennsylvania.

Welch points to challenges during his term, including COVID-19, supply chain disruptions, five hurricanes, and the stalled Tropicana Field/Historic Gas Plant redevelopment, which he blames on the previous Tampa Bay Rays ownership walking away from a 12-agreement deal. He also defended his hurricane response, citing a state award for debris removal, and dismissed criticism over his city hall attendance record. Looking ahead, Welch is campaigning on five priorities: housing, youth and education, sustainability, economic development, and neighborhood safety, while warning that a property tax measure on the ballot could cut city services.

The St. Petersburg, Florida City Council voted to raise utility rates for residents, with increases for potable water, stormwater, wastewater, reclaimed water, and sanitation services taking effect Oct. 1. City officials said the higher rates are needed to fund essential operations and routine maintenance across the city's utility systems.

The vote was not unanimous, and public comment at Thursday's meeting was uniformly opposed, with residents citing strain on fixed incomes. Depending on water usage, monthly bills are expected to rise between $8 and $14. Council Member Gina Driscoll pushed to skip a year of increases, while Council Member Copley Gerdes argued that delaying upgrades would risk infrastructure failure. The city reviews utility rates annually, and Driscoll noted that future rates could be affected by the outcome of a property tax amendment on November's general election ballot.

St. Petersburg, Florida voters cast ballots Tuesday to decide whether incumbent Mayor Ken Welch earns a second term or a challenger takes over city hall. Welch, in office since January 2022, is campaigning on housing and public safety successes but faces criticism over hurricane recovery, water billing errors, and a collapsed ballpark deal.

His challengers include former Governor and Congressman Charlie Crist, Councilwoman Brandi Gabbard, former NAACP St. Pete president Maria Scruggs, former fire chief Jim Large, and neighborhood leader Kevin Batdorf. Crist, an early polling frontrunner, is emphasizing affordability, education, and dissatisfaction with the city's response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Batdorf has built momentum criticizing the administration's storm response, while Gabbard focuses on infrastructure and utility costs. Large points to his tenure as fire chief despite past controversy over workplace conduct complaints, and Scruggs emphasizes community partnerships for economic growth.

If no candidate wins a majority Tuesday, the race advances to a runoff decided in November's general election.