# 2021 St. Petersburg, Florida, mayoral election

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The 2021 St. Petersburg, Florida, mayoral election was held on August 24, 2021, with a runoff on November 2 because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the first round. It elected the mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida. Incumbent Democratic mayor Rick Kriseman was term-limited and could not seek a third term in office. Municipal elections in St. Petersburg are officially nonpartisan. Former Pinellas County commissioner Ken Welch easily defeated city councilor Robert Blackmon in the runoff. Candidates eliminated in the first round included city councilor Darden Rice, former state representative Wengay Newton, and restaurateur Pete Boland. Welch took office in January 2022, becoming the first black mayor of St. Petersburg.

## Candidates
### Declared
#### Democratic Party

* Michael Ingram, political science major at the University of South Florida
* Wengay Newton, former state representative, former city councilor, and candidate for the Pinellas County commission in 2020
* Marcile Powers, small business owner
* Darden Rice, city councilor
* Ken Welch, former Pinellas County commissioner

#### Republican Party

* Robert Blackmon, city councilor
* Pete Boland, restaurateur

#### Independents

* Torry Nelson, teacher

### Did not file

* Paul Congemi, singer-songwriter and perennial candidate (party affiliation: Republican)
* Michael Levinson, poet and perennial candidate (party affiliation: Independent) (ran a write-in campaign)
* Vincent Nowicki, realtor (party affiliation: Independent)

### Declined

* Rick Baker, former mayor (party affiliation: Republican) (endorsed Newton, then Blackmon)
* Jeff Brandes, state senator (party affiliation: Republican) (endorsed Blackmon)
* Ed Montanari, chair of the St. Petersburg City Council (party affiliation: Republican)

## General election
### Endorsements
#### State politicians

* Larry Ahern, former state representative
* Jeff Brandes, state senator
* Kathleen Peters, Pinellas County commissioner and former state representative

#### Local politicians

* Doreen Caudell, vice mayor of Clearwater
* Kathleen Ford, former St. Petersburg city councilor
* Dick Greco, former mayor of Tampa
* Tyler Payne, mayor of Treasure Island
* Bob Ulrich, former mayor of St. Petersburg
* Larry Williams, former St. Petersburg city councilor

#### Labor unions

* Florida Gulf Coast Associated Builders and Contractors
* International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 397

#### Local politicians

* Rick Baker, former mayor of St. Petersburg (Republican)

#### State politicians

* Anna Eskamani, State Representative
* Annette Taddeo, State Senator and nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Florida in 2014

#### County officials

* Kevin Beckner, former Hillsborough County Commissioner

#### Local officials

* Gina Driscoll, St. Petersburg city councilor
* Jim Kennedy, former St. Petersburg city councilor
* Virginia Littrell, former St. Petersburg city councilor

#### Organizations

* Building Bridges For America
* EMILY's List
* Equality Florida
* Florida College Democrats
* Lesbian PAC
* LGBTQ Victory Fund
* National Organization for Women (co-endorsement with Ken Welch)
* Roadmap for Progress
* Ruth's List
* #VOTEPROCHOICE
* Working Families Party

#### Labor unions

* Service Employees International Union (co-endorsement with Ken Welch)

#### 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
* Jim Davis, former U.S. representative for Florida's 11th congressional district and nominee for Governor of Florida in 2006

#### State politicians

* Dave Aronberg, Palm Beach County State Attorney and former state senator
* Charlie Justice, Pinellas County commissioner and former state senator
* Janet Long, Pinellas County commissioner and former state representative
* Michele Rayner, state representative
* Sean Shaw, former state representative

#### Pinellas County officials

* Ken Burke, Clerk of Court (Republican)
* Deborah Clark, former Elections Supervisor (Republican)
* Jim Coats, former Sheriff (Republican)
* Pam Dubov, former Property Appraiser (Republican)
* Rene Flowers, county commissioner
* Pat Gerard, county commissioner
* Bob Gualtieri, Sheriff (Republican)
* Karen Seel, county commissioner
* Bob Stewart, former county commissioner (Republican)

#### Local politicians

* Bob Buckhorn, former mayor of Tampa
* Deborah Figgs-Sanders, St. Petersburg city councilor
* Amy Foster, St. Petersburg city councilor
* Charlie Gerdes, former St. Petersburg city councilor
* Connie Kone, former St. Petersburg city councilor
* Rick Kriseman, incumbent mayor
* Lisa Wheeler-Bowman, St. Petersburg city councilor

#### Individuals

* Bob Dillinger, former public defender
* Bob Devin Jones, playwright
* Kerry Kriseman, wife of incumbent mayor Rick Kriseman
* Bill Law, former president of St. Petersburg College and Tallahassee Community College
* Martha Lenderman, mental health advocate
* Susan McGrath, former chair of the Pinellas County Democratic Party
* John Morgan, lawyer (Independent)
* Andy Oliver, pastor of Allendale United Methodist Church
* Scott Wagman, businessman and candidate for mayor in 2009

#### Newspapers and publications

* Tampa Bay Times

#### Organizations

* National Organization for Women (co-endorsement with Darden Rice)
* Pinellas Stonewall Democrats
* Pinellas Young Democrats

#### Labor unions

* Service Employees International Union (co-endorsement with Darden Rice)

### 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 |

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | 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% | 5% |
| St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | August 5, 2021 | 749 (LV) | ± 3.6% | 4% | 25% | 10% | 16% | 31% | 3% | 10% |
| St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | July 22, 2021 | 644 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 4% | 22% | 8% | 17% | 23% | 6% | 21% |
| St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | June 21, 2021 | 386 (LV) | ± 5.0% | 2% | 12% | 13% | 12% | 20% | 7% | 34% |
| St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | May 13, 2021 | 527 (LV) | ± 4.3% | – | – | 12% | 16% | 16% | 16% | 40% |
| St. Pete Polls/Florida Politics | March 2, 2021 | 581 (LV) | ± 4.1% | – | – | 14% | 15% | 14% | 14% | 43% |
| InsiderAdvantage/Fox 13 | January 31, 2021 | 400 (RV) | ± 4.2% | – | 6% | 8% | 7% | 12% | 0% | 67% |

### Debates

2021 St. Petersburg mayoral election debates :
| No. | Date & time | Host(s) | Moderator(s) | Link | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants |
| Key: P Participant  N Non-invitee  I Invitee | Key: P Participant  N Non-invitee  I Invitee | Key: P Participant  N Non-invitee  I Invitee | Key: P Participant  N Non-invitee  I Invitee | Key: P Participant  N Non-invitee  I Invitee | Blackmon | Boland | Ingram | Nelson | Newton | Powers | Rice | Welch |
| 1 | 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 :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 55,249 | 100.00 |

## Runoff
### Candidates

* Robert Blackmon (R), city councilor
* Ken Welch (D), former Pinellas County commissioner

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | 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% |

#### with Robert Blackmon and Darden Rice

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | 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 | 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.

#### Federal officials

* Gus Bilirakis, U.S. representative for Florida's 12th congressional district

#### State politicians

* Larry Ahern, former state representative
* Rudy Bradley, former state representative
* Jeff Brandes, state senator
* Nick DiCeglie, state representative
* Jim Frishe, former state representative
* Kathleen Peters, Pinellas County commissioner and former state representative
* Chris Sprowls, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
* Jackie Toledo, state representative

#### Local politicians

* Rick Baker, former mayor of St. Petersburg (previously endorsed Wengay Newton)
* Doreen Caudell, vice mayor of Clearwater
* Kathleen Ford, former St. Petersburg city councilor
* Dick Greco, former mayor of Tampa
* Tyler Payne, mayor of Treasure Island
* Bob Ulrich, former mayor of St. Petersburg
* Larry Williams, former St. Petersburg city councilor

#### Individuals

* Kevin Harrington, entrepreneur and "Shark" from the TV show Shark Tank
* Art Laffer, economist and Reagan Administration advisor

#### Labor unions

* Florida Gulf Coast Associated Builders and Contractors
* International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 397

#### Federal officials

* Kathy Castor, U.S. representative for Florida's 14th congressional district (2007-present)
* 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
* Jim Davis, former U.S. representative for Florida's 11th congressional district and nominee for Governor of Florida in 2006

#### State politicians

* Dave Aronberg, Palm Beach County State Attorney and former state senator
* Janet Cruz, state senator and former Minority Leader of the Florida House of Representatives (2016–2018)
* Charlie Justice, Pinellas County commissioner and former state senator
* Janet Long, Pinellas County commissioner and former state representative
* Michele Rayner, state representative
* Sean Shaw, former state representative

#### Pinellas County officials

* Ken Burke, Clerk of Court (Republican)
* Deborah Clark, former Elections Supervisor (Republican)
* Jim Coats, former Sheriff (Republican)
* Pam Dubov, former Property Appraiser (Republican)
* Rene Flowers, county commissioner
* Pat Gerard, county commissioner
* Bob Gualtieri, Sheriff (Republican)
* Karen Seel, county commissioner
* Bob Stewart, former county commissioner (Republican)

#### Local politicians

* Bob Buckhorn, former mayor of Tampa
* Jane Castor, Mayor of Tampa
* Deborah Figgs-Sanders, St. Petersburg city councilor
* Amy Foster, St. Petersburg city councilor
* Charlie Gerdes, former St. Petersburg city councilor
* Connie Kone, former St. Petersburg city councilor
* Rick Kriseman, incumbent mayor
* Darden Rice, St. Petersburg city councilor and 2021 mayoral candidate
* Lisa Wheeler-Bowman, St. Petersburg city councilor

#### Individuals

* Bob Dillinger, former public defender
* Bob Devin Jones, playwright
* Kerry Kriseman, wife of incumbent mayor Rick Kriseman
* Bill Law, former president of St. Petersburg College and Tallahassee Community College
* Martha Lenderman, mental health advocate
* Susan McGrath, former chair of the Pinellas County Democratic Party
* John Morgan, lawyer (Independent)
* Andy Oliver, pastor of Allendale United Methodist Church
* Scott Wagman, businessman and candidate for mayor in 2009

#### Newspapers and publications

* Tampa Bay Times

#### Organizations

* Equality Florida (previously endorsed Darden Rice)
* National Organization for Women (co-endorsement with Darden Rice)
* Pinellas Stonewall Democrats
* Pinellas Young Democrats
* Sierra Club

#### Labor unions

* Service Employees International Union (co-endorsement with Darden Rice)

### Results

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