Despite lagging fundraising, Wengay Newton is leading some top contenders.
Former Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch is leading opponents by a significant margin, according to the latest survey of the St. Petersburg mayoral race by St. Pete Polls.
In stark contrast to previous polls, Welch leads the field of eight candidates with 20% support among respondents. Three candidates are vying for the No. 2 spot in the poll, separated by less than one percentage point.
What is perhaps most shocking is the statistical tie among three candidates trailing Welch. There, former state Representative and City Council member Wengay Newton has a razor thing edge with just shy of 13% support.
Newton has done little campaigning and has raised a pittance compared to Darden Rice and Robert Blackmon — just over $23,000. Welch, Rice and Blackmon have all surpassed six figures, and Rice has by far spent the most on the election.
Yet Rice trails Newton in the poll with just over 12% and only leads Blackmon by a tenth of a percentage point, though the difference between the three is statistically insignificant.
