Ken Welch
Mayor of St. PetersburgWikipedia
19
MENTIONS
7
EPISODES
3
PODCASTS
Search complete. 19 mentions across 7 episodes found for "Ken Welch".
Sep 1, 2026
Dan DiacoPANELIST
There's a runoff between the two of them for the final.
Bubba the Love Sponge ClemHOST
Ken Welch? The existing mayor of St.
Bubba the Love Sponge ClemHOST
Pete is Ken Welch.
Bubba the Love Sponge ClemHOST
Is it him versus Charlie for the general? That's what it looks like, yes.
Bubba the Love Sponge ClemHOST
Oh, man.
Bubba the Love Sponge ClemHOST
And Ken Welch is well-liked, and he's the incumbent.
Dan DiacoPANELIST
Incumbents win, but Charlie's got that Charlie factor.
Dan DiacoPANELIST
No, Charlie's got
Read ShepherdHOST
Good morning.
Read ShepherdHOST
Charlie Crist is challenging St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch to a televised debate as they head into the general election in November.
Read ShepherdHOST
So we have two months before the November 3rd election.
Read ShepherdHOST
And Welch is in a runoff against Crist.
Dana McKayHOST
His message could have been overridden by the other candidates who were in the race at that time.
Dana McKayHOST
Now it's just one-on-one.
Chris TrenkmannCORRESPONDENT
And Charlie Crist has a lot more money than Ken Welch.
Chris TrenkmannCORRESPONDENT
Yes, he does.
Read ShepherdHOST
in public funding for the new facility.
Read ShepherdHOST
Now, according to our political commentator, Peter Schorsch over at Florida Politics, he is blaming Ken Welch, the current mayor of St. Petersburg, for undoing what the previous mayor, Rick Kreisman, had in place to keep the race in St. Petersburg.
Read ShepherdHOST
He says this is one of the darkest days in St. Pete history, along with the hurricanes and the riots in the 90s.
Read ShepherdHOST
He says that this is not something that should have happened, but now it's going to be left historically in the hands of Ken Welch, who will be mayor.
Read ShepherdHOST
as the Rays are departing their city.
Chris TrenkmannCORRESPONDENT
Well, looking at the results of the primary election, Charlie Crist has a 15-point lead right now over Ken Welch.
Chris TrenkmannCORRESPONDENT
Yeah, I don't think Welch is going to
Dana McKayHOST
end up being mayor much longer.
Natalie RodriguezCORRESPONDENT
Over in Pinellas County, the race for St. Pete mayor generating massive headlines.
Natalie RodriguezCORRESPONDENT
Incumbent Ken Welch faced a heavy challenge for former Governor Charlie Crist.
Natalie RodriguezCORRESPONDENT
City Council Member Brandi Gabbard also kept the pressure on the mayoral ticket.
Natalie RodriguezCORRESPONDENT
If no candidate clears the absolute majority, though, a November runoff is locked in.
Chris TrenkmannCORRESPONDENT
Here locally, an exciting race in St. Petersburg.
Chris TrenkmannCORRESPONDENT
A lot of eyes on what was going to happen in the race for mayor.
Chris TrenkmannCORRESPONDENT
And Charlie Crist and Ken Welch will square off in a runoff in that race.
Chris TrenkmannCORRESPONDENT
Now, Crist raised a record $2 million, comfortably had a lead at the end of last night's voting.
Skye LeBronHOST
This one could have been won outright last night, but since no one got 50% of the vote, it'll head to a runoff.
Skye LeBronHOST
The two candidates, current mayor Ken Welch, who came in second with 21% of the vote, and former governor Charlie Crist, who had a pretty healthy lead with 35%, and this one's already getting a bit testy.
Skye LeBronHOST
During a speech at his watch party, Welch said Crist is accepting money for what he calls, quote, "out of state special interests."
Ken WelchSOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
Now it's down to one opponent-
Ryan GormanHOST
No.
Natalie RodriguezCORRESPONDENT
Uh, let's focus on Tampa Bay now, the attention there on local municipal and mayoral races.
Natalie RodriguezCORRESPONDENT
We've got a big contest in St. Pete involving figures like Charlie Crist.
Ryan GormanHOST
Former governor running for mayor.
Chris TrenkmannCORRESPONDENT
tough to beat an incumbent.
Chris TrenkmannCORRESPONDENT
And even though Ken Welch has some serious opposition, he's still expected to get a fair number of votes.
Chris TrenkmannCORRESPONDENT
And obviously, Charlie Criss, with his name recognition, his past jobs in high-profile political positions, could very well split that vote.
Chris TrenkmannCORRESPONDENT
But getting over