Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist elected mayor of St. Petersburg
The gist
Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist defeated incumbent Mayor Ken Welch with roughly 63% of the vote.
The win returns Crist, a former Republican turned Democrat, to elected office.
How it unfolded
- Oct 15, 2025Crist told Spectrum News he was "seriously considering" a bid for St. Pete mayor in 2026.
- Feb 5, 2026Crist denied speaking to Jeffrey Epstein about a pardon, telling NBC News "I never talked to him. Why would I?"
- Apr 27, 2026Crist announced his candidacy in a video posted to X: "Well, it's official. I'm now a candidate for mayor of St. Pete."