Ken Welch qualifies for high-stakes St. Pete Mayor’s race

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch has officially qualified for re-election, moving his bid for a second term into its next phase.

Welch filed his qualifying paperwork Wednesday, formalizing his place in a crowded race that includes former Shore Acres Neighborhood Civic Association President Kevin Batdorf, former Gov. Charlie Crist, Paul Congemi, City Council member Brandi Gabbard, former St. Petersburg Fire Chief Jim Large and Maria Scruggs.

The milestone comes as Welch faces a serious political test this cycle, with Crist entering the race with more than $1 million on hand through an affiliated political committee and early polling showing the former Governor ahead of the crowded field.

“Serving as Mayor of St. Petersburg has been the honor of a lifetime,” Welch said.

“Together, we’ve made meaningful progress creating opportunities for residents, strengthening neighborhoods and building a more resilient city. While there is more work ahead, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and excited to continue delivering results for the people of St. Pete.” 

Welch’s campaign said his re-election bid will focus on public safety, infrastructure and resilience, affordable housing, storm recovery, economic opportunity and city services — all of which are hallmark pillars that have guided his tenure in office. 

Those issues are likely to define the race, but so are the controversies and frustrations that have reshaped St. Petersburg politics during Welch’s first term.

Crist has gone after Welch directly, telling the Tampa Bay Times that St. Petersburg has been “on a pause” in recent years and criticizing Welch over communication and the failed effort to bring a Moffitt Cancer Center campus downtown.

Gabbard has also built a campaign around frustration with City Hall, leaning on her Council experience and support from business interests and residents critical of Welch’s leadership. Large brings decades of public safety experience, while Batdorf and Scruggs have channeled neighborhood-level frustration after recent hurricanes and recovery efforts and other issues.

Welch has leaned into the power of incumbency and a growing coalition of local and regional supporters that say he is still the best candidate for the job.

He has guided the city through tumultuous times like the COVID pandemic, rising affordability pressures, infrastructure strain, multiple hurricanes and fallout after previous Tampa Bay Rays ownership pulled out of a deal with the city and Pinellas County to redevelop Tropicana Field and the surrounding Gas Plant District.

Welch has pushed efforts to redevelop the Gas Plant District forward ever since, and staff recommendations have already honed in on a few select developers with proposals that could help the city redevelop the area without team involvement. Welch has built enough momentum to push for a vote this Summer before the 2026 election, potentially giving him a deal to hang his hat on during the final stretch of the mayoral campaign if the city agrees to a deal.

Welch has been endorsed by numerous local political figures, including Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, the St. Petersburg Association of Fire Fighters, the Police Benevolent Association, former Sen. Arthenia Joyner, Rep. Michele Rayner, City Council Member Deborah Figgs-Sanders, former City Council Member Charlie Gerdes, City Council Member Copley Gerdes, former Pinellas Commissioner Pat Gerard, Pinellas Commissioner Rene Flowers, Gulfport City Council Member Jennifer Webb and former Sen. Susan Latvala.

The election is scheduled for August. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two finishers will advance to a November runoff.