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
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of May 28, 2021Candidate (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 Samplesize Marginof error PeteBoland RobertBlackmon WengayNewton DardenRice KenWelch Other UndecidedSt. 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%
Debate 2021 St. Petersburg mayoral election debate Date & time Host(s) Moderator(s) Link ParticipantsKey: Participant Non-invitee Invitee Blackmon Boland Ingram Nelson Newton Powers Rice Welch1 June 22, 20217:00 p.m. EDT Tampa Bay TimesBay News 9 Steve ContornoHolly Gregory Video
Results
Runoff Candidates Robert Blackmon (R), city councilor Ken Welch (D), former Pinellas County commissioner
Polling
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RobertBlackmon KenWelch UndecidedSt. 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 Samplesize Marginof error RobertBlackmon DardenRice UndecidedSt. 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 Samplesize Marginof error DardenRice KenWelch UndecidedSt. 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.
Results
Notes
References
External links Official campaign websites
Pete Boland (R) for Mayor Michael Ingram (D) for Mayor
Torry Nelson (I) for Mayor
Marcile Powers (D) for Mayor Darden Rice (D) for Mayor Ken Welch (D) for Mayor