St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch is facing a widening financial gap in his bid for re-election, as first-quarter filings for 2026 reveal he is significantly outpaced by his most formidable expected challenger. While Welch brought in just under $220,000 during the first three months of the year, the figures mask a more complex financial picture involving internal transfers and a stark contrast in cash reserves compared to former Governor Charlie Crist.
The disparity is most evident when comparing Welch’s coffers to the St. Pete Shines committee, which is expected to back Crist. That committee raised nearly $500,000 in the first quarter alone and has amassed more than $1.2 million since its inception. With approximately $1.1 million currently on hand, Crist’s supporting apparatus holds a cash advantage of nearly $1 million over the incumbent mayor.
For Welch, the Q1 total of nearly $220,000 is split between his official campaign account, which took in nearly $37,000 and his political committee, St. Petersburg Progress, which reported just over $182,000. However, a closer look at the ledger shows that a substantial portion of the committee’s funds did not come from new donors. Approximately $85,000 was transferred from a previous political entity, meaning Welch raised just over $97,000 in new money through the committee and roughly $135,000 in total new contributions across both accounts.
Complexity and Controversy in PAC Transfers
The movement of funds into St. Petersburg Progress has been marked by administrative confusion. The PAC’s filings list the $85,000 transfer as originating from Pelican PAC, the entity that supported Welch during his first mayoral run four years ago. However, official records indicate a different story: the state revoked the registration of Pelican PAC in late 2024 following a series of fines and warnings regarding missing documentation.
Expenditure records suggest the money actually came from a second entity, the Pelican Political Action Committee. This second committee is a source of significant turmoil for the Mayor; Welch abandoned the group after a former treasurer allegedly stole more than $200,000 from the account. These financial headwinds, combined with the reliance on old funds, abandon the incumbent with just under $193,000 in total cash on hand as of April.
In contrast, the St. Pete Shines committee likewise utilized transfers to build its war chest, receiving about $336,000 from the Friends of Charlie Crist committee in the final quarter of 2025. Despite this, the scale of Crist’s fundraising remains exponentially higher than that of the current administration.
The Donor Landscape and Campaign Spending
Despite the gap in totals, Welch continues to draw support from some of the region’s most influential business interests. His top contributors for the first quarter reflect a strong tie to the Tampa Bay sports and development sectors:
- SCG Hospitality: The investment firm controlled by Tampa Bay Buccaneers co-owner Bryan Glazer donated $25,000 to the committee.
- Tampa Bay Rays: The organization contributed $25,000, while CEO Ken Babby provided the maximum individual campaign contribution of $1,000.
- The Catsimatidis Family: Developer John Catsimatidis gave $15,000 to the committee, and his wife, Margo, contributed an additional $10,000.
Other notable campaign supporters include real estate executive Jay Beyroyti, developer Jonathan Stanton, and real estate investors Larry and Mack Feldman. The Mayor’s mother, Alletha Welch, and local hotelier Chuck Prather also provided maximum contributions. Legal support is evident through a donation from Keane Reese Gerdes PA, the firm where former City Council member Charlie Gerdes is a partner.
On the expenditure side, Welch’s committee spent roughly $15,000 in Q1, with $9,000 going to AB Strategy, led by finance consultant Alain Berinstain. His direct campaign expenses included $5,000 for communications consulting via MDW Communications in Lake Worth, $2,500 for ad production through Tennessee-based CounterPoint Messaging, and $2,500 for his campaign kickoff event hosted by St. Pete Athletic.
Comparing the Field of Challengers
While the primary narrative centers on the clash between Welch and Crist, several other candidates are attempting to enter the race. However, none have yet reached the financial threshold to be considered major threats to the incumbent’s seat. Former St. Petersburg Fire Chief Jim Large leads this secondary group, having raised more than $59,000 in the first quarter.
| Candidate | Q1 Funds Raised | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Charlie Crist (via PAC) | ~$500,000 | Expected entry this month |
| Ken Welch | ~$220,000 | Includes $85k internal transfer |
| Jim Large | >$59,000 | Former Fire Chief |
| Maria Scruggs | ~$25,500 | Total including Shelynn PAC |
| Brandi Gabbard | >$4,000 | City Council Member |
| Kevin Batdorf | $1,305 | Former Neighborhood Assoc. President |
Among the remaining candidates, City Council member Brandi Gabbard raised slightly over $4,000. Maria Scruggs reported $2,555 to her campaign account, though her total fundraising—when combined with her affiliated Shelynn PAC—stands at approximately $25,500. Kevin Batdorf has raised a modest $1,305. Notably, Paul Congemi, a former candidate previously embroiled in national controversy over remarks made to an opponent, has not yet filed his first-quarter report.
The current financial trajectory suggests a race where the incumbent will need to either aggressively ramp up new donor acquisition or rely on a grassroots surge to offset the massive capital advantage held by the Crist camp. As the race moves toward the summer, the ability of the Welch campaign to stabilize its PAC structure and attract new high-dollar contributions will be a critical metric of viability.
The next official checkpoint for the candidates will be the filing of the second-quarter financial reports, which will reveal whether the fundraising gap has closed or widened as the election cycle intensifies.
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