2021 St. Petersburg, Florida mayoral election

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2021 St. Petersburg, Florida, mayoral election
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  KenWelchOfficialPortrait.jpg RobertBlackmonOfficialPortrait.jpg St. Petersburg City Council Member Darden Rice Official Portrait.jpg
Candidate Ken Welch Robert Blackmon Darden Rice
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Alliance Democratic Republican Democratic
First-round 21,812
39.48%
15,638
28.30%
9,180
16.62%
Runoff 38,037
59.7%
25,712
40.3%
Eliminated

  Wengay Newton.jpg
Candidate Wengay Newton Pete Boland
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Alliance Democratic Republican
First-round 4,123
7.46%
3,421
6.19%
Runoff Eliminated Eliminated

Mayor before election

Rick Kriseman
Democratic

Elected Mayor

Ken Welch
Democratic

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[]

  • Robert Blackmon, city councillor[14]
  • Pete Boland, restaurateur[15]

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
  • Florida Gulf Coast Associated Builders and Contractors[29]
  • International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 397[29]
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
Labor unions
  • Service Employees International Union (co-endorsement with Ken Welch)[24]
Ken Welch (D)
Federal officials
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
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[]

General election results[46]
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[]

  • Robert Blackmon (R), city councillor[46]
  • Ken Welch (D), former Pinellas County commissioner[46]

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
  • Florida Gulf Coast Associated Builders and Contractors[29]
  • International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 397[29]
Ken Welch (D)
Federal officials
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
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[]

Runoff results[52]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Ken Welch 38,037 59.7%
Nonpartisan Robert Blackmon 25,712 40.3%
Total votes 63,749 100.00

Notes[]

  1. ^ a b c d Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ^ Michael Ingram, Torry Nelson, and Marcile Powers with 1%
  3. ^ Michael Ingram, Torry Nelson, and Marcile Powers with 1%
  4. ^ Michael Ingram, Torry Nelson, and Marcile Powers with 2%
  5. ^ Michael Ingram with 3%; Torry Nelson with 2%; Marcile Powers with 1%
  6. ^ Michael Levinson with 5%; Paul Congemi with 4%; Michael Ingram and Vincent Nowicki with 3%; Marcile Powers with 2%
  7. ^ Paul Congemi with 5%; Michael Ingram and Michael Levinson with 3%; Vincent Nowicki with 2%; Marcile Powers with 1%
  8. ^ Deveron Gibbons with 0%

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Realtor Vincent Nowicki Files to Enter Race for St. Petersburg Mayor". www.baynews9.com.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Ken Welch handily defeats Robert Blackmon, will be St. Pete's first Black Mayor". Nov 3, 2021.
  4. ^ "USF St. Petersburg Student Files to Run in St. Petersburg 2021 Mayoral Race". www.baynews9.com. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  5. ^ "St. Petersburg's election season begins. So who's running?". Tampa Bay Times.
  6. ^ a b c "Ken Welch, not yet a candidate for St. Pete mayor, picks up two big endorsements". Tampa Bay Times.
  7. ^ "Wengay Newton files to run for St. Pete Mayor". December 19, 2020.
  8. ^ "Wengay Newton says no time for partisanship to improve St. Pete". www.baynews9.com. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Ken Welch's St. Petersburg mayoral campaign kicks off". Tampa Bay Times.
  10. ^ Alden, Michael. "Race for mayor kicks off with six candidates – The Crow's Nest at USF St. Petersburg". Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  11. ^ "Marcile Powers talks about why she wants to be the next mayor in St. Pete". www.baynews9.com. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  12. ^ a b "Darden Rice files to run for St. Petersburg mayor". Tampa Bay Times.
  13. ^ "Ken Welch joins crowded race for St. Petersburg Mayor". wtsp.com. 15 January 2021.
  14. ^ Company, Tampa Publishing. "St. Petersburg Council member Robert Blackmon files to run for mayor". Tampa Bay Times.
  15. ^ "Restaurant owner Pete Boland enters St. Pete Mayor's race". 3 June 2021.
  16. ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/torry-nelson-7405a6124/
  17. ^ "Torry Gerard Nelson from St Petersburg, Florida". voterrecords.com. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ "'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.
  20. ^ "Poll: Race for St. Petersburg Mayor is wide open". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  21. ^ "Michael Levinson". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  22. ^ "Lev Plan for World Peace". www.michaelslevinson.com. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  23. ^ "Wengay Newton explains cryptic comment about Ken Welch". Tampa Bay Times.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ a b c d e f "Blackmon announces endorsements for St. Petersburg mayor". Tampa Bay Times.
  26. ^ "Senator Brandes - The Florida Senate".
  27. ^ 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.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ Hayes, Kelly (19 May 2021). "Anna Eskamani backs Darden Rice in St. Pete Mayor's race". Florida Politics.
  31. ^ Hayes, Kelly (26 May 2021). "Annette Taddeo endorses Darden Rice for St. Pete Mayor". Florida Politics.
  32. ^ a b c d "Ken Welch claims most City Council endorsements in St. Petersburg mayor's race". Tampa Bay Times.
  33. ^ a b c d Hayes, Kelly (13 July 2021). "Darden Rice nabs endorsements from former Council members Jim Kennedy, Virginia Littrell". Florida Politics.
  34. ^ "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.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g "In St. Petersburg mayor's race, LGBTQ support divided between Rice and Welch". Tampa Bay Times.
  36. ^ "FCD 2021 Endorsed Candidates". www.flcollegedems.org. Florida College Democrats.
  37. ^ "Spotlight Candidate: Darden Rice". www.victoryfund.org. LGBTQ Victory Fund.
  38. ^ "Meet Our 2021 Candidates". www.voteprochoice.us. 2021 #VOTEPROCHOICE.
  39. ^ "Deeply honored to have the @WorkingFamilies endorsement". www.twitter.com. Darden Rice For Mayor.
  40. ^ 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.
  41. ^ a b c d "Rick Kriseman endorses Ken Welch in race for St Petersburg mayor". www.baynews9.com.
  42. ^ a b "Who should be St. Petersburg's next mayor? We have an answer". Tampa Bay Times.
  43. ^ Company, Tampa Publishing. "Darden Rice maintains fundraising lead in St. Petersburg mayor's race". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  44. ^ Companies, The 100 (2021-06-15). "First debate set in St. Pete mayoral race". The Tampa Bay 100. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  45. ^ Company, Tampa Publishing. "Eight St. Petersburg mayoral candidates debate their visions for the city". Tampa Bay Times.
  46. ^ a b c "Overview and Live Results: St. Petersburg Mayoral Election".
  47. ^ a b Taylor, Janelle (September 14, 2021). "Kathy Castor, Janet Cruz endorse Ken Welch". Florida Politics. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  48. ^ "Tampa Mayor Jane Castor endorses Ken Welch for St. Petersburg mayor".
  49. ^ "What's next for Darden Rice? Perhaps working with Ken Welch in City Hall".
  50. ^ "Ken Welch says he has evolved since previous comments on LGBTQ, women's rights". Tampa Bay Times.
  51. ^ "Sierra Club honors intersectionality with campaign soiree for St. Pete Mayor, City Council candidates". Oct 18, 2021.
  52. ^ "Election results: Ken Welch declares victory over Robert Blackmon in St. Petersburg mayor race". Nov 2, 2021.

External links[]

Official campaign websites
Retrieved from ""