News Summary
Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist has shown interest in running for Mayor of St. Petersburg in the upcoming 2026 election, potentially challenging incumbent Mayor Ken Welch. His decision comes after recent announcements from other candidates, including City Council member Brandi Gabbard. Crist, who has a lengthy political history, is weighing his options with family before making a final decision on his candidacy. The political dynamics in St. Petersburg are shifting, as voter support for Democrats appears to be declining.
St. Petersburg – Former Florida Governor and U.S. Representative Charlie Crist has expressed interest in running for St. Petersburg Mayor in the upcoming election set for 2026. His announcement comes amid speculation that he may challenge current Mayor Ken Welch, who is seeking re-election.
In a recent conversation with media outlets, Crist indicated that he would be discussing his potential candidacy with family, including his fiancée, Chelsea Grimes, before making any final decisions. If he chooses to run, this would mark Crist’s eighth campaign for public office over the past two decades. Notably, he has previously faced setbacks, such as his loss in the 2022 gubernatorial race against Republican Ron DeSantis by nearly 20 percentage points.
The local political landscape is already becoming competitive, as St. Pete City Council member Brandi Gabbard also declared her candidacy one day before Crist’s announcement. Presently, Maria Scruggs, a former leader of the NAACP St. Petersburg branch and unsuccessful candidate in past elections, is the only individual who has officially filed to run. However, Scruggs has yet to raise sufficient funds to make her campaign competitive in a mid-sized city like St. Petersburg.
Charlie Crist’s political career began in the early 1990s when he served as a Republican member of the Florida Senate from 1993 to 1999. He later held positions as Florida Education Commissioner and Attorney General before becoming Governor in 2006. Crist has attempted multiple high-profile runs, including an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate as an independent in 2010 and another unsuccessful gubernatorial bid in 2014 as a Democrat against Republican Rick Scott.
After being elected to Florida’s 13th Congressional District in 2016 by defeating the Republican incumbent David Jolly, Crist resigned from Congress to launch his campaign for Governor in 2022 but was defeated by DeSantis. Mayor Ken Welch, who won his last election by over 20 percentage points against Republican Robert Blackmon, has faced little opposition in prior terms as a Pinellas County Commissioner. Welch previously defeated Scruggs by 29 percentage points in the 2012 election.
Charlie Crist’s extensive political resume and name recognition could position him as a strong candidate in the race for mayor, particularly given his past fundraising capabilities, including raising $1 million within 24 hours of securing the Democratic nomination against DeSantis in 2022. However, the political dynamics in St. Petersburg are shifting, with a noticeable decline in active Democratic voter numbers. In the 2020 election, over 97,000 votes were cast for Joseph Biden, while Donald Trump received fewer than 59,000 votes. The subsequent election saw Democrats facing more significant declines in support compared to Republicans.
The 2026 St. Petersburg Mayoral election will occur during an even-numbered year for the first time, which may influence voter turnout based on historical presidential election patterns. Incumbent Mayor Welch is currently navigating challenges from both Gabbard and the potential candidacy of Crist, both of whom supported him during his previous campaign four years ago.
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Additional Resources
- WTSP: Charlie Crist Considering Run for St. Pete Mayor
- Wikipedia: Charlie Crist
- Spectrum Local News: Charlie Crist Considering Bid for St. Pete Mayor
- Google Search: Charlie Crist St Petersburg Mayor
- Florida Politics: Charlie Crist Mulling St. Pete Mayoral Bid
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Florida
- WFLA: Charlie Crist Strongly Considering Run for St. Pete Mayor
- Google News: Charlie Crist St Petersburg 2026
Author: STAFF HERE PETERSBURG WRITER
The ST PETERSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREStPetersburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in St Petersburg, Pinellas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Localtopia, and SHINE Mural Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and St. Pete Downtown Partnership, plus leading businesses in finance, manufacturing, and healthcare that power the local economy such as Raymond James Financial, Jabil, and Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
