2021 St. Petersburg, Florida mayoral election
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Elections in Florida |
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Government |
The 2021 St. Petersburg, Florida mayoral election was held on August 24, 2021.[1] Incumbent Democratic mayor Rick Kriseman is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term in office.[2] Municipal elections in St. Petersburg are officially nonpartisan. All candidates appeared on the same primary ballot, and because no candidate garnered at least 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters advanced to a runoff election on November 2, 2021. Former Pinellas County commissioner Ken Welch easily defeated city councillor Robert Blackmon in the runoff and became the first black mayor of St. Petersburg.[3]
Candidates[]
Declared[]
Democratic Party[]
- Michael Ingram, political science major at the University of South Florida[4][5]
- Wengay Newton, former state representative, former city councillor, and candidate for the Pinellas County commission in 2020[6][7][8]
- Marcile Powers, small business owner[9][10][11]
- Darden Rice, city councillor[2][12]
- Ken Welch, former Pinellas County commissioner[2][13]
Republican Party[]
Independents[]
Did not file[]
- Paul Congemi, singer-songwriter and perennial candidate (Party affiliation: Republican)[19][18]
- Michael Levinson, poet and perennial candidate (Party affiliation: Independent)[20][21][22] (ran a write-in campaign)[18]
- Vincent Nowicki, realtor (Party affiliation: Independent)[1][18]
Declined[]
- Rick Baker, former mayor (Party affiliation: Republican)[23] (endorsed Newton, then Blackmon)[24][25]
- Jeff Brandes, state senator (Party affiliation: Republican)[12][26] (endorsed Blackmon)[24]
- Ed Montanari, chair of the St. Petersburg City Council (Party affiliation: Republican)[27][28]
General election[]
Endorsements[]
Robert Blackmon (R)
- State politicians
- Larry Ahern, former state representative[29]
- Jeff Brandes, state senator[24]
- Kathleen Peters, Pinellas County commissioner and former state representative[29]
- Local politicians
- Doreen Caudell, vice mayor of Clearwater[29]
- Kathleen Ford, former St. Petersburg city councillor[24]
- Dick Greco, former mayor of Tampa[24]
- Tyler Payne, mayor of Treasure Island[29]
- Bob Ulrich, former mayor of St. Petersburg[29]
- Larry Williams, former St. Petersburg city councillor[24]
- Labor unions
Wengay Newton (D)
- Local politicians
- Rick Baker, former mayor of St. Petersburg (Republican)[24]
Darden Rice (D)
- State politicians
- Anna Eskamani, State Representative[30]
- Annette Taddeo, State Senator and nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Florida in 2014[31]
- County officials
- Kevin Beckner, former Hillsborough County Commissioner[24]
- Local officials
- Gina Driscoll, St. Petersburg city councillor[32]
- Jim Kennedy, former St. Petersburg city councillor[33]
- Virginia Littrell, former St. Petersburg city councillor[33]
- Organizations
- Building Bridges For America[34]
- Equality Florida[35]
- EMILY's List[32]
- Florida College Democrats[36]
- National Organization for Women (co-endorsement with Ken Welch)[24]
- Lesbian PAC[35]
- LGBTQ Victory Fund[37]
- Roadmap for Progress[33]
- Ruth's List[33]
- Vote Pro Choice[38]
- Working Families Party[39]
- Labor unions
- Service Employees International Union (co-endorsement with Ken Welch)[24]
Ken Welch (D)
- Federal officials
- Charlie Crist, U.S. representative for Florida's 13th congressional district, former Republican-turned-Independent Governor of Florida, Republican and Independent candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010, and Democratic nominee for Governor in 2014[6]
- Jim Davis, former U.S. representative for Florida's 11th congressional district and nominee for Governor of Florida in 2006[27]
- State politicians
- Dave Aronberg, Palm Beach County State Attorney and former state senator[40]
- Charlie Justice, Pinellas County commissioner and former state senator[27]
- Janet Long, Pinellas County commissioner and former state representative[27]
- Michele Rayner, state representative[24]
- Sean Shaw, former state representative[24]
- Pinellas County officials
- Ken Burke, Clerk of Court (Republican)[40]
- Deborah Clark, former Elections Supervisor (Republican)[40]
- Jim Coats, former Sheriff (Republican)[40]
- Pam Dubov, former Property Appraiser (Republican)[40]
- Bob Gualtieri, Sheriff (Republican)[41]
- , county commissioner[27]
- Pat Gerard, county commissioner[27]
- Karen Seel, county commissioner[27]
- , former county commissioner (Republican)[27]
- Local politicians
- Bob Buckhorn, former Mayor of Tampa[40]
- Deborah Figgs-Sanders, St. Petersburg city councillor[27]
- Amy Foster, St. Petersburg city councillor[32]
- Charlie Gerdes, former St. Petersburg city councillor[27]
- Frank Hibbard, Mayor of Clearwater (Republican)[40]
- Connie Kone, former St. Petersburg city councillor[27]
- Rick Kriseman, incumbent mayor[41]
- Lisa Wheeler-Bowman, St. Petersburg city councillor[27]
- Individuals
- Bob Dillinger, former public defender[27]
- Bob Devin Jones, playwright[40]
- Kerry Kriseman, wife of incumbent mayor Rick Kriseman[9]
- Martha Lenderman, mental health advocate[40]
- Susan McGrath, former chair of the Pinellas County Democratic Party[35]
- John Morgan, lawyer (Independent)[24]
- Bill Law, former president of St. Petersburg College and Tallahassee Community College[9]
- Andy Oliver, pastor of Allendale United Methodist Church[24]
- Scott Wagman, businessman and candidate for mayor in 2009[40]
- Newspapers and publications
- Tampa Bay Times[42]
- Organizations
- National Organization for Women (co-endorsement with Darden Rice)[24]
- Pinellas Stonewall Democrats[35]
- Pinellas Young Democrats[24]
- Labor unions
- Service Employees International Union (co-endorsement with Darden Rice)[24]
Fundraising[]
Campaign finance reports as of May 28, 2021 | ||
---|---|---|
Candidate (party) | Total raised | |
Robert Blackmon (R) | Did not file | |
Pete Boland (R) | Did not file | |
Michael Ingram (D) | $1,611 | |
Michael Levinson (I) | $3,319 | |
Torry Nelson (I) | Did not file | |
Wengay Newton (D) | $16,959 | |
Marcile Powers (D) | $533 | |
Darden Rice (D) | $556,053 | |
Ken Welch (D) | $282,469 | |
Vincent Nowicki (I) | $22,117 | |
[43] |
Polling[]
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Pete Boland |
Robert Blackmon |
Wengay Newton |
Darden Rice |
Ken Welch |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | August 21, 2021 | 542 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 5% | 27% | 6% | 17% | 37% | 3%[b] | 5% |
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | August 5, 2021 | 749 (LV) | ± 3.6% | 4% | 25% | 10% | 16% | 31% | 3%[c] | 10% |
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | July 22, 2021 | 644 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 4% | 22% | 8% | 17% | 23% | 6%[d] | 21% |
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | June 21, 2021 | 386 (LV) | ± 5.0% | 2% | 12% | 13% | 12% | 20% | 7%[e] | 34% |
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | May 13, 2021 | 527 (LV) | ± 4.3% | – | – | 12% | 16% | 16% | 16%[f] | 40% |
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | March 2, 2021 | 581 (LV) | ± 4.1% | – | – | 14% | 15% | 14% | 14%[g] | 43% |
InsiderAdvantage/Fox 13 | January 31, 2021 | 400 (RV) | ± 4.2% | – | 6% | 8% | 7% | 12% | 0%[h] | 67% |
Debates[]
2021 St. Petersburg mayoral election debates | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Date & Time | Host(s) | Moderator(s) | Link | Participants | ||||||||||
Key: P Participant N Non-invitee I Invitee |
Blackmon | Boland | Ingram | Nelson | Newton | Powers | Rice | Welch | |||||||
1[44][45] | June 22, 2021 7:00 p.m. EDT |
Tampa Bay Times Bay News 9 |
Steve Contorno Holly Gregory |
Video | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P |
Results[]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nonpartisan | Ken Welch | 21,812 | 39.48 | |
Nonpartisan | Robert Blackmon | 15,638 | 28.30 | |
Nonpartisan | Darden Rice | 9,180 | 16.62 | |
Nonpartisan | Wengay Newton | 4,123 | 7.46 | |
Nonpartisan | Pete Boland | 3,421 | 6.19 | |
Nonpartisan | Michael Ingram | 460 | 0.83 | |
Nonpartisan | Marcile Powers | 404 | 0.73 | |
Nonpartisan | Torry Nelson | 211 | 0.38 | |
Total votes | 55,249 | 100.00 |
Runoff[]
Candidates[]
Polling[]
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Robert Blackmon |
Ken Welch |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | October 26, 2021 | 524 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 39% | 55% | 6% |
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | September 22, 2021 | 484 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 36% | 53% | 11% |
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | August 21, 2021 | 542 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 29% | 53% | 18% |
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | August 5, 2021 | 749 (LV) | ± 3.6% | 28% | 44% | 28% |
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | July 22, 2021 | 644 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 24% | 32% | 44% |
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | June 21, 2021 | 386 (LV) | ± 5.0% | 17% | 30% | 53% |
Hypothetical polling
- with Robert Blackmon and Darden Rice
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Robert Blackmon |
Darden Rice |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | August 21, 2021 | 542 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 30% | 44% | 26% |
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | August 5, 2021 | 749 (LV) | ± 3.6% | 28% | 39% | 31% |
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | July 22, 2021 | 644 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 23% | 32% | 45% |
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | June 21, 2021 | 386 (LV) | ± 5.0% | 18% | 28% | 54% |
- with Darden Rice and Ken Welch
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Darden Rice |
Ken Welch |
Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | August 21, 2021 | 542 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 23% | 55% | 23% |
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | August 5, 2021 | 749 (LV) | ± 3.6% | 25% | 47% | 27% |
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | July 22, 2021 | 644 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 25% | 36% | 39% |
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | June 21, 2021 | 386 (LV) | ± 5.0% | 21% | 36% | 44% |
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | May 13, 2021 | 527 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 24% | 31% | 45% |
St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | March 2, 2021 | 581 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 24% | 31% | 46% |
Endorsements[]
Endorsements in bold were made after the general election.
Robert Blackmon (R)
- State politicians
- Larry Ahern, former state representative[29]
- Jeff Brandes, state senator[24]
- Nick DiCeglie, state representative[25]
- , former state representative[25]
- Kathleen Peters, Pinellas County commissioner and former state representative[29]
- Chris Sprowls, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives[25]
- Jackie Toledo, state representative[25]
- Local politicians
- Rick Baker, former mayor of St. Petersburg[25] (previously endorsed Wengay Newton)[24]
- Doreen Caudell, vice mayor of Clearwater[29]
- Kathleen Ford, former St. Petersburg city councillor[24]
- Dick Greco, former mayor of Tampa[24]
- Tyler Payne, mayor of Treasure Island[29]
- Bob Ulrich, former mayor of St. Petersburg[29]
- Larry Williams, former St. Petersburg city councillor[24]
- Labor unions
Ken Welch (D)
- Federal officials
- Kathy Castor, U.S. representative for Florida's 14th congressional district (2007-present)[47]
- Charlie Crist, U.S. representative for Florida's 13th congressional district, former Republican-turned-Independent Governor of Florida, Republican and Independent candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010, and Democratic nominee for Governor in 2014[6]
- Jim Davis, former U.S. representative for Florida's 11th congressional district and nominee for Governor of Florida in 2006[27]
- State politicians
- Dave Aronberg, Palm Beach County State Attorney and former state senator[40]
- Janet Cruz, state senator and former Minority Leader of the Florida House of Representatives (2016-2018)[47]
- Charlie Justice, Pinellas County commissioner and former state senator[27]
- Janet Long, Pinellas County commissioner and former state representative[27]
- Michele Rayner, state representative[24]
- Sean Shaw, former state representative[24]
- Pinellas County officials
- Ken Burke, Clerk of Court (Republican)[40]
- Deborah Clark, former Elections Supervisor (Republican)[40]
- Jim Coats, former Sheriff (Republican)[40]
- Pam Dubov, former Property Appraiser (Republican)[40]
- Bob Gualtieri, Sheriff (Republican)[41]
- , county commissioner[27]
- Pat Gerard, county commissioner[27]
- Karen Seel, county commissioner[27]
- , former county commissioner (Republican)[27]
- Local politicians
- Bob Buckhorn, former Mayor of Tampa[40]
- Jane Castor, Mayor of Tampa[48]
- Deborah Figgs-Sanders, St. Petersburg city councillor[27]
- Amy Foster, St. Petersburg city councillor[32]
- Charlie Gerdes, former St. Petersburg city councillor[27]
- Frank Hibbard, Mayor of Clearwater (Republican)[40]
- Connie Kone, former St. Petersburg city councillor[27]
- Rick Kriseman, incumbent mayor[41]
- Darden Rice, St. Petersburg city councillor and 2021 mayoral candidate[49]
- Lisa Wheeler-Bowman, St. Petersburg city councillor[27]
- Individuals
- Bob Dillinger, former public defender[27]
- Bob Devin Jones, playwright[40]
- Kerry Kriseman, wife of incumbent mayor Rick Kriseman[9]
- Martha Lenderman, mental health advocate[40]
- Susan McGrath, former chair of the Pinellas County Democratic Party[35]
- John Morgan, lawyer (Independent)[24]
- Bill Law, former president of St. Petersburg College and Tallahassee Community College[9]
- Andy Oliver, pastor of Allendale United Methodist Church[24]
- Scott Wagman, businessman and candidate for mayor in 2009[40]
- Newspapers and publications
- Tampa Bay Times[42]
- Organizations
- Equality Florida[50] (previously endorsed Darden Rice)[35]
- National Organization for Women (co-endorsement with Darden Rice)[24]
- Pinellas Stonewall Democrats[35]
- Pinellas Young Democrats[24]
- Sierra Club[51]
- Labor unions
- Service Employees International Union (co-endorsement with Darden Rice)[24]
Results[]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nonpartisan | Ken Welch | 38,037 | 59.7% | |
Nonpartisan | Robert Blackmon | 25,712 | 40.3% | |
Total votes | 63,749 | 100.00 |
Notes[]
- ^ a b c d Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - ^ Michael Ingram, Torry Nelson, and Marcile Powers with 1%
- ^ Michael Ingram, Torry Nelson, and Marcile Powers with 1%
- ^ Michael Ingram, Torry Nelson, and Marcile Powers with 2%
- ^ Michael Ingram with 3%; Torry Nelson with 2%; Marcile Powers with 1%
- ^ Michael Levinson with 5%; Paul Congemi with 4%; Michael Ingram and Vincent Nowicki with 3%; Marcile Powers with 2%
- ^ Paul Congemi with 5%; Michael Ingram and Michael Levinson with 3%; Vincent Nowicki with 2%; Marcile Powers with 1%
- ^ Deveron Gibbons with 0%
References[]
- ^ a b "Realtor Vincent Nowicki Files to Enter Race for St. Petersburg Mayor". www.baynews9.com.
- ^ a b c Hayes, Kelly (2020-11-17). "'No space for cowards': Black leaders voice support for Ken Welch in St. Pete mayoral race". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
- ^ "Ken Welch handily defeats Robert Blackmon, will be St. Pete's first Black Mayor". Nov 3, 2021.
- ^ "USF St. Petersburg Student Files to Run in St. Petersburg 2021 Mayoral Race". www.baynews9.com. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
- ^ "St. Petersburg's election season begins. So who's running?". Tampa Bay Times.
- ^ a b c "Ken Welch, not yet a candidate for St. Pete mayor, picks up two big endorsements". Tampa Bay Times.
- ^ "Wengay Newton files to run for St. Pete Mayor". December 19, 2020.
- ^ "Wengay Newton says no time for partisanship to improve St. Pete". www.baynews9.com. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ^ a b c d e "Ken Welch's St. Petersburg mayoral campaign kicks off". Tampa Bay Times.
- ^ Alden, Michael. "Race for mayor kicks off with six candidates – The Crow's Nest at USF St. Petersburg". Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ^ "Marcile Powers talks about why she wants to be the next mayor in St. Pete". www.baynews9.com. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
- ^ a b "Darden Rice files to run for St. Petersburg mayor". Tampa Bay Times.
- ^ "Ken Welch joins crowded race for St. Petersburg Mayor". wtsp.com. 15 January 2021.
- ^ Company, Tampa Publishing. "St. Petersburg Council member Robert Blackmon files to run for mayor". Tampa Bay Times.
- ^ "Restaurant owner Pete Boland enters St. Pete Mayor's race". 3 June 2021.
- ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/torry-nelson-7405a6124/
- ^ "Torry Gerard Nelson from St Petersburg, Florida". voterrecords.com. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
- ^ a b c d Company, Tampa Publishing. "The field is set in St. Petersburg's elections for mayor, City Council". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
- ^ "'Go back to Africa' candidate Paul Congemi first to file for 2021 St. Pete mayoral race". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. 2019-12-07. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
- ^ "Poll: Race for St. Petersburg Mayor is wide open". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ^ "Michael Levinson". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ^ "Lev Plan for World Peace". www.michaelslevinson.com. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ^ "Wengay Newton explains cryptic comment about Ken Welch". Tampa Bay Times.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac "Here are all the major endorsements in the 2021 St. Petersburg primary election so far". 12 August 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Blackmon announces endorsements for St. Petersburg mayor". Tampa Bay Times.
- ^ "Senator Brandes - The Florida Senate".
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Ken Welch lands baker's dozen of endorsements for St. Pete Mayor". January 21, 2021.
- ^ Smith, Adam (2021-04-20). "Political Party with Adam Smith: 'The mayor doesn't run the show,' says council chair Ed Montanari". St Pete Catalyst. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Robert Blackmon rakes in endorsements from Pinellas County leaders, unions". June 22, 2021.
- ^ Hayes, Kelly (19 May 2021). "Anna Eskamani backs Darden Rice in St. Pete Mayor's race". Florida Politics.
- ^ Hayes, Kelly (26 May 2021). "Annette Taddeo endorses Darden Rice for St. Pete Mayor". Florida Politics.
- ^ a b c d "Ken Welch claims most City Council endorsements in St. Petersburg mayor's race". Tampa Bay Times.
- ^ a b c d Hayes, Kelly (13 July 2021). "Darden Rice nabs endorsements from former Council members Jim Kennedy, Virginia Littrell". Florida Politics.
- ^ "Building Bridges is excited to partner with @RoadmapProgress in supporting @DardenRice for Mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida". www.twitter.com. Building Bridges For America, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g "In St. Petersburg mayor's race, LGBTQ support divided between Rice and Welch". Tampa Bay Times.
- ^ "FCD 2021 Endorsed Candidates". www.flcollegedems.org. Florida College Democrats.
- ^ "Spotlight Candidate: Darden Rice". www.victoryfund.org. LGBTQ Victory Fund.
- ^ "Meet Our 2021 Candidates". www.voteprochoice.us. 2021 #VOTEPROCHOICE.
- ^ "Deeply honored to have the @WorkingFamilies endorsement". www.twitter.com. Darden Rice For Mayor.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Company, Tampa Publishing. "Ken Welch backers in St. Pete mayor's race include prominent Republicans". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ^ a b c d "Rick Kriseman endorses Ken Welch in race for St Petersburg mayor". www.baynews9.com.
- ^ a b "Who should be St. Petersburg's next mayor? We have an answer". Tampa Bay Times.
- ^ Company, Tampa Publishing. "Darden Rice maintains fundraising lead in St. Petersburg mayor's race". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ^ Companies, The 100 (2021-06-15). "First debate set in St. Pete mayoral race". The Tampa Bay 100. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
- ^ Company, Tampa Publishing. "Eight St. Petersburg mayoral candidates debate their visions for the city". Tampa Bay Times.
- ^ a b c "Overview and Live Results: St. Petersburg Mayoral Election".
- ^ a b Taylor, Janelle (September 14, 2021). "Kathy Castor, Janet Cruz endorse Ken Welch". Florida Politics. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ "Tampa Mayor Jane Castor endorses Ken Welch for St. Petersburg mayor".
- ^ "What's next for Darden Rice? Perhaps working with Ken Welch in City Hall".
- ^ "Ken Welch says he has evolved since previous comments on LGBTQ, women's rights". Tampa Bay Times.
- ^ "Sierra Club honors intersectionality with campaign soiree for St. Pete Mayor, City Council candidates". Oct 18, 2021.
- ^ "Election results: Ken Welch declares victory over Robert Blackmon in St. Petersburg mayor race". Nov 2, 2021.
External links[]
- Official campaign websites
Categories:
- 21st century in St. Petersburg, Florida
- Mayoral elections in St. Petersburg, Florida
- 2021 United States mayoral elections
- November 2021 events in the United States