Charlie Crist

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.

Florida's primaries produced a mixed picture for both parties ahead of November's general election. Rep. Byron Donalds won the Republican gubernatorial nomination with Trump's endorsement and a large financial edge, beating Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, former House Speaker Paul Renner and newcomer James Fishback despite Gov. Ron DeSantis's public misgivings; Donalds would become Florida's first Black governor if elected. Former Republican congressman David Jolly, running with Gwen Graham as his lieutenant governor pick, won the Democratic nomination over state Rep. Dotie Joseph and others, pitching himself as a centrist who wants to end the culture wars. The two will meet in November to succeed the term-limited DeSantis, in a state where Democrats haven't won the governorship in over 30 years.

Progressive state Rep. Angie Nixon defeated establishment-backed Alex Vindman for the Senate Democratic nomination despite being outspent; she faces Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, who won her primary with Trump's backing, in the special election for Marco Rubio's former seat. Incumbents Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Jared Moskowitz turned back challengers, including Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, in redrawn districts under Florida's new Republican-favored congressional map. Trump-endorsed Cory Mills lost his House primary amid domestic violence allegations, while far-right figures Dan Bilzerian and Madison Cawthorn were also defeated, alongside Rep. Randy Fine's contentious win.

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.