The 2026 St. Petersburg mayoral election will take place on August 18, 2026, with a runoff election on November 3, 2026, if no candidate receives a majority of the vote.[1] Incumbent mayor Ken Welch, who was first elected in 2021, has announced that he will seek re-election.

The election is officially non-partisan, though candidates are free to reveal their registered party affiliations.

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Endorsements

Charlie Christ
State legislators
Individuals
Brandi Gabbard
Organizations
Ken Welch
State legislators
Local officials
Labor unions

Polling

Poll Source Date(s) Administered Sample Size[a] Margin of Error Kevin Batdorf Charlie Crist Brandi Gabbard Jim Large Maria Scruggs Ken Welch Undecided
St. Pete Polls[17][A] March 25–26, 2026 538 (LV) ± 4.2% 2% 23% 6% 4% 5% 19% 42%
– 36% – – – 31% 33%
– – 24% – – 32% 44%

Debates and forum

2026 St. Petersburg mayoral election debates and candidate forum
No. Date Host Moderator Link Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Key:
 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Not invited   I  Invited  W  Withdrawn
Kevin Batdorf Paul Congemi Charlie Crist Brandi Gabbard Jim Large Maria Scruggs Ken Welch
1[18] Jun. 10, 2026 NAACP St. Petersburg Branch No. 5130 Judithanne McLauchlan
Craig Patrick
Marilyn Turman		 YouTube P N P P A P P
2[19] Jun. 18, 2026 League of Women Voters
St. Petersburg Area		 YouTube P N P P P P P
3[20] Jun. 24, 2026 Bay News 9
Stronger Together St. Pete Foundation		 Josh Rojas YouTube P N P P P P P

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
Partisan clients
  1. ↑ Poll sponsored by St. Pete Shines, an organization supporting Crist

References

  1. ↑ "Current and Upcoming Elections". Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections. 2025. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  2. ↑ Mendoza, Jesse (March 16, 2026). "Kevin Batdorf enters St. Petersburg mayoral race, criticizing city direction". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
  3. ↑ Taylor, Janelle Irwin (February 10, 2026). "He's back, but probably not from Africa: Perennial candidate Paul Congemi joins St. Pete Mayor's race". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
  4. ↑ Wright, Colleen (April 27, 2026). "Making it official, Charlie Crist running for mayor of St. Petersburg". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  5. ↑ Taylor, Janelle (October 14, 2025). "Brandi Gabbard commits to challenge Ken Welch for Mayor". Florida Politics. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  6. ↑ Taylor, Janelle Irwin (February 7, 2026). "Former St. Pete Fire Chief Jim Large mulling bid to challenge Ken Welch". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
  7. ↑ Taylor, Janelle Irwin (February 25, 2026). "A Large decision: Former St. Pete Fire Chief announces bid for Mayor". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
  8. ↑ Wright, Colleen (August 4, 2025). "Maria Scruggs files to run for St. Petersburg mayor". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 15, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ↑ Wolf, Colleen (March 29, 2024). "St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch says he'll run for re-election in 2026". Tampa Bay Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  10. ↑ Taylor, Janelle (August 28, 2025). "Ben Diamond will not run for St. Pete Mayor". Florida Politics. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  11. 1 2 "Welch ally: Charlie Crist built his career on Black and brown votes". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  12. 1 2 Wright, Colleen (June 15, 2026). "St. Petersburg Sen. Darryl Rouson endorses Welch and Crist for mayor". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  13. ↑ Mendoza, Jesse (July 2, 2026). "Allison Tant backs Charlie Crist in St. Pete Mayor's race". Florida Politics. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  14. ↑ Mendoza, Jesse (June 16, 2026). "Florida NOW PAC backs Brandi Gabbard in St. Petersburg Mayor's race". Florida Politics. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Mendoza, Jesse (March 23, 2026). "Ken Welch re-election bid racks up endorsements from St. Petersburg community leaders". Florida Politics. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Tampa Mayor Castor endorses St. Petersburg Mayor Welch for second term". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  17. ↑ Mendoza, Jesse (March 26, 2026). "Charlie Crist leads Ken Welch, everyone else in poll of St. Pete mayoral race". Florida Politics. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
  18. ↑ Mendoza, Jesse (June 10, 2026). "St. Petersburg mayoral candidates duke things out during packed debate". Florida Politics. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  19. ↑ Mendoza, Jesse (June 18, 2026). "St. Pete mayoral candidates keep it civil in second debate, as Large makes first appearance". Florida Politics. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  20. ↑ Mendoza, Jesse (June 25, 2026). "Charlie Crist pitches renewed Rays push during St. Pete mayoral forum". Florida Politics. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
Official campaign websites
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_St._Petersburg,_Florida,_mayoral_election