Greek-American former Florida Governor and US Congressman Charlie Crist has been elected mayor of St. Petersburg, defeating incumbent Ken Welch by a decisive margin in Tuesday’s November 3 election and marking a political comeback for one of Florida’s most prominent political figures.
According to unofficial election results from Pinellas County, Crist received 64,858 votes, or 62%, compared with 39,758 votes, or 38%, for Welch. The victory comes four years after Crist’s unsuccessful campaign for Florida governor against Republican Ron DeSantis and returns him to elected office in the city where he grew up and launched his political career.
Speaking to supporters on election night, the 70-year-old politician emphasized his personal connection to St. Petersburg, explaining why he had decided to seek municipal office after previously serving as governor and in Congress.
“Because it’s home. It’s hometown, and you know, home is where the heart is,” Crist said, according to the Florida Phoenix. He described the nonpartisan mayoral race as an opportunity to bring together voters from different political backgrounds after years of increasingly contentious political debate.
The following morning, Crist appeared at a busy intersection to personally thank residents for their support. Speaking to Spectrum Bay News 9, he recalled his mother’s advice that expressing gratitude was even more important than asking politely.
“My mom used to always tell my three sisters and me, it’s always important to say please, Charlie; it’s even more important to say thank you,” he said.
“There’s nowhere we’d rather be today than back out in our community, saying thank you. Every honk, wave, and smile means so much, and we’re feeling more loved than ever,” noted the newly-elected mayor in a Facebook post.
“To our team, volunteers, and everyone who put their trust in us, thank you for making this possible. We’re so grateful and so excited to get St. Pete off pause, together!”
From Florida governor and congressman to city mayor
Crist’s election represents another chapter in a political career spanning more than three decades and three different political affiliations.
Born in Pennsylvania in 1956 and raised in St. Petersburg, Crist comes from a family with Greek Cypriot roots. His paternal grandfather, Adam, emigrated from Cyprus, while his family surname was originally Christodoulos. Crist has frequently expressed pride in his Greek heritage and maintained close ties with the Greek-American community throughout his political career.
He began his elected political career as a Republican in the Florida Senate in 1992. He subsequently served as Florida’s education commissioner and attorney general before winning the 2006 gubernatorial election.
As Florida’s 44th governor, from January 2007 until January 2011, Crist pursued policies involving education, environmental protection, healthcare and emergency preparedness. His administration also dealt with the economic consequences of the 2008 financial crisis and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
In 2010, Crist left the Republican Party and unsuccessfully ran for the US Senate as an independent, losing to Marco Rubio. He subsequently joined the Democratic Party in 2012 and unsuccessfully challenged Republican Governor Rick Scott in 2014.
His political career continued in Washington, where he represented Florida’s 13th Congressional District from January 2017 until August 2022. During his three terms in the House of Representatives, he supported Democratic positions on healthcare, environmental policy and civil rights and voted twice to impeach President Donald Trump.
Crist resigned from Congress to challenge DeSantis in the 2022 gubernatorial election, which he lost by a substantial margin. His victory in St. Petersburg now returns him to public office in a municipal role, making him one of the relatively few former American governors to subsequently become a city mayor.
Flood protection and development top mayor-elect’s agenda
Crist will assume office on January 7, 2027, inheriting significant challenges involving infrastructure, housing affordability, flooding and the redevelopment of the Tropicana Field area.
His victory ends Welch’s four-year administration. Welch, the city’s first Black mayor, had faced criticism over infrastructure problems, housing costs and the handling of redevelopment negotiations, although his administration also oversaw major recovery efforts following the 2024 hurricanes.
Crist has pledged to draw on his experience as governor and congressman while focusing on municipal services and cooperation across political divisions.
