Incumbent
Ken Welch
IncumbentKen Welch
St. Petersburg Mayoral Election
$14.2K
AUG 19, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Overview
Current roleMayor
PartyDemocratic
Age61 years old (Aug 15, 1964)
GenderMale
LocationFlorida
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BackgroundPolitician
EducationBA, University of South Florida St. Petersburg (USFSP)
Notable personal detailsKenneth T. Welch is an American politician serving as the 54th mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida, sworn in on January 6, 2022. A third-generation St. Petersburg resident who grew up in the Gas Plant District, he previously served 20 years on the Pinellas County Commission representing District 7. Before elected office, he worked as an accountant for Florida Power Corporation and as a technology manager for his family’s accounting firm. He holds a BA from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and an MBA from Florida A&M University.
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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.
News
Ken Welch is being mentioned in coverage of Florida’s push for local governments to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement through 287(g) agreements. The reporting says Pinellas County and St. Petersburg have faced protests and political pressure over their ICE cooperation, with some residents and officials criticizing the arrangement. It also notes that local leaders could face removal from office under state law if they resist these immigration enforcement measures.
Endorsements
Endorsers of Ken Welch for St. Petersburg Mayoral Election
Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County
Public endorsement
Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County endorsed Ken Welch for reelection.
Darryl Rouson
Elected official
State Sen. Darryl Rouson endorsed Ken Welch for St. Petersburg mayor.
St. Pete faith leaders
Advocacy group
A coalition of St. Petersburg faith leaders endorsed Ken Welch for reelection.
Jane Castor
Elected official
Jane Castor endorsed Ken Welch for reelection as St. Petersburg mayor.
Charlie Crist
Political organization
Charlie Crist endorsed Ken Welch in Welch's earlier St. Petersburg mayoral campaign.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Fundraising