Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch talk before the Tampa Bay Rays’ home opener on April 6. Photo by Mark Parker.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch has garnered a high-profile, cross-bay endorsement as the battle for his seat intensifies.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, who has often worked in lockstep with Welch on issues affecting the Tampa Bay region, praised the incumbent’s steady leadership and commitment to delivering actionable community progress. The announcement on Wednesday morning came less than two days after former Gov. Charlie Crist became the seventh person to enter the 2026 mayoral race.
“Mayor Ken Welch has been a thoughtful, collaborative leader for St. Petersburg and a strong partner for our entire region,” Castor said in a prepared statement. “He leads with integrity, puts people first, and understands how to bring communities together to get things done. St. Petersburg is stronger because of his leadership, and I’m proud to support his re-election.”
Earlier this month, the two mayors simultaneously threw out ceremonial first pitches when the Tampa Bay Rays returned to a storm-repaired Tropicana Field for the first time since September 2024. Castor and Welch have frequently advocated for transit, affordable housing, environmental resilience, and workforce development initiatives that benefit the region.
Castor must leave office in 2027 after serving two consecutive four-year terms. Welch said he was honored to receive an endorsement from one of Tampa Bay’s most respected leaders.
“I’m grateful to Mayor Castor for her partnership with and support,” Welch added. “The Tampa Bay region succeeds when we work together, and I’m proud of the progress we’ve made by building strong relationships across our cities. As we look ahead, I’m focused on continuing to create opportunity, expand affordable housing, and ensure St. Petersburg remains a city where everyone can thrive.”
Former Gov. Charlie Crist aired his first political ad before the home opener. Photo by Mark Parker.
The city’s first Black mayor faces stiff competition from Crist, a prior supporter. While the race is nonpartisan, both are currently Democrats.
Crist first sought a seat in the Florida Senate in 1986 and has spent four decades pursuing or holding public office as a registered Republican, Independent, and Democrat. His mayoral campaign has yet to announce any endorsements; however, his political committee has already raised nearly $1.2 million.
The former congressman, who most recently lost a second gubernatorial bid to Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022, spent the past two years in Minnesota. Crist moved back to St. Petersburg in August 2025, just in time to qualify for this year’s primary election.
After filing for his seventh political office on Monday, Crist told WTVT that he is “addicted to public service. He added that “you’ve got to get on the field and let the people decide.”
Welch recently received endorsements from State Rep. Michele Rayner, former State Sen. Arthenia Joyner, Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers, and City Council members Copley Gerdes and Deborah Figgs-Sanders. The St. Petersburg Association of Fire Fighters, the Suncoast Police Benevolent Association, former County Commissioners Pat Gerard and Susan Latvala, and Gulfport City Councilmember Jennifer Webb, also a former state representative, have previously offered their support.
A crowded field of challengers includes City Councilmember Brandi Gabbard, former Fire Chief Jim Large, former Shore Acres Neighborhood Association President Kevin Batdorf, perennial candidate Paul Congemi, and Maria Scruggs, former president of the St. Petersburg branch of the NAACP.
Scruggs, who has received support from more than 1,000 registered voters, announced on Monday that she is the only candidate to qualify via petitions. “This milestone reflects a campaign built on strategic planning, disciplined execution, and strong community engagement – achieved with limited financial resources,” states the announcement.
Welch previously told Power Broker Magazine that his supporters within local government and throughout the community are “folks who live, work, and play in St. Pete, and have been visible and active in our community over the past 4.5 years. And I think that’s important.”
“You don’t get anything accomplished without having significant partners,” Welch said. “So, having those leaders, folks who have done the hard work on the ground, both in times of celebration and in times of challenge, means a lot. And that’s the way we’ll continue to be successful.”
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