Incumbent
Ken Welch
Incumbent Democratic candidate for Mayor in Florida
St. Petersburg Mayoral Election
$25.4K
AUG 19, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Live Odds — St. Petersburg Mayoral Election
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
7%chance to win
$25.4KAUG 19, 2026Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleMayor
PartyDemocratic
Age62 years old (Aug 15, 1964)
GenderMale
LocationFlorida
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BackgroundPolitician
EducationUniversity of South Florida (BA)
Notable personal detailsKenneth T. Welch is an American politician serving as the mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida, having taken office on 2022-01-06 after two decades on the Pinellas County Commission. He previously worked in accounting and financial systems administration, including at Florida Power Corporation. He earned a BA from the University of South Florida and an MBA from Florida A&M University.
SourcesShowHide
Political Positions
Economy & Taxes
As mayor Ken Welch has proposed budgets that fund increased spending on housing, resilience, public safety, and transit initiatives while also pointing to lower effective property tax rates for homesteaded homeowners in some years. His fiscal actions show both targeted spending increases and efforts to limit property-tax burdens rather than a clearly consistent pro-tax or pro–tax-cut ideology.
Healthcare
Ken Welch has supported expanding access to mental health services and using federal funds for local public-health programs. He has emphasized a science-based approach to COVID-19 and investments that support hospitals and frontline workers. His public statements and city actions focus on local government-supported health initiatives rather than privatization or repeal of federal programs.
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Immigration & Border
As mayor, Ken Welch has opposed aggressive or unconstitutional ICE tactics and has said St. Petersburg will not support warrantless home entry or expanded ICE actions; he has indicated local officers are not taking ICE enforcement training and framed compliance as limited to what state law requires. He has received public pressure from immigrant-rights groups to end local ICE/287(g) arrangements but has emphasized constitutional limits and community trust in policing.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate has publicly denied being opposed to abortion in a 2021 mayoral debate remark but has not a clear, detailed public policy statement on abortion access or specific limits. Available reporting shows a denial of opposition but does not provide a definitive position on whether he supports codifying abortion rights or specific restrictions. Further primary-source statements or policy documents are not found in the searched sources.
Climate & Energy
Supports recognizing climate change impacts and prioritizing adaptation and resilience through large investments in climate-resilient infrastructure and planning; emphasizes preparing the city for stronger storms, sea-level rise, and flood mitigation rather than advocating fossil-fuel expansion. Focuses on funding and implementation of an Agile Resiliency Plan and related infrastructure projects.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports limits on visible public carrying of firearms and has expressed concern about proposals to allow permitless open carry; has opposed residential shooting ranges in neighborhoods, indicating support for restrictions on where firearms can be openly used to protect public safety.
Latest News
Ken Welch is in the news because local leaders in Pinellas County and St. Petersburg are under pressure over cooperation with federal immigration enforcement through 287(g) agreements. The report says residents and some officials have criticized the city’s ICE agreement, while state law could expose leaders to removal if they resist. The situation reflects a broader push from Gov. Ron DeSantis for local governments to work with immigration authorities.
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We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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