2021 St. Petersburg, Florida, mayoral election
The 2021 St. Petersburg, Florida, mayoral election was held on August 24, 2021, with a runoff on November 2 because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the first round. It elected the mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida. Incumbent Democratic mayor Rick Kriseman was term-limited and could not seek a third term in office. Municipal elections in St. Petersburg are officially nonpartisan. Former Pinellas County commissioner Ken Welch easily defeated city councilor Robert Blackmon in the runoff. Candidates eliminated in the first round included city councilor Darden Rice, former state representative Wengay Newton, and restaurateur Pete Boland. Welch took office in January 2022, becoming the first black mayor of St. Petersburg.
Candidates
Declared
Democratic Party
- Michael Ingram, political science major at the University of South Florida
- Wengay Newton, former state representative, former city councilor, and candidate for the Pinellas County commission in 2020
- Marcile Powers, small business owner
- Darden Rice, city councilor
- Ken Welch, former Pinellas County commissioner
Republican Party
- Robert Blackmon, city councilor
- Pete Boland, restaurateur
Independents
- Torry Nelson, teacher
Did not file
- Paul Congemi, singer-songwriter and perennial candidate
- Michael Levinson, poet and perennial candidate
- Vincent Nowicki, realtor
Declined
- Rick Baker, former mayor '
- Jeff Brandes, state senator '
- Ed Montanari, chair of the St. Petersburg City Council
General election
Polling
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Pete Boland | Robert Blackmon | Wengay Newton | Darden Rice | Ken Welch | Other | Undecided |
| August 21, 2021 | 542 | ± 4.2% | 5% | 27% | 6% | 17% | 37% | 3% | 5% | |
| August 5, 2021 | 749 | ± 3.6% | 4% | 25% | 10% | 16% | 31% | 3% | 10% | |
| July 22, 2021 | 644 | ± 3.9% | 4% | 22% | 8% | 17% | 23% | 6% | 21% | |
| June 21, 2021 | 386 | ± 5.0% | 2% | 12% | 13% | 12% | 20% | 7% | 34% | |
| May 13, 2021 | 527 | ± 4.3% | – | – | 12% | 16% | 16% | 16% | 40% | |
| March 2, 2021 | 581 | ± 4.1% | – | – | 14% | 15% | 14% | 14% | 43% | |
| January 31, 2021 | 400 | ± 4.2% | – | 6% | 8% | 7% | 12% | 0% | 67% |
Runoff
Candidates
- Robert Blackmon, city councilor
- Ken Welch, former Pinellas County commissioner
Polling
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Robert Blackmon | Ken Welch | Undecided |
| October 26, 2021 | 524 | ± 4.3% | 39% | 55% | 6% | |
| September 22, 2021 | 484 | ± 4.5% | 36% | 53% | 11% | |
| August 21, 2021 | 542 | ± 4.2% | 29% | 53% | 18% | |
| August 5, 2021 | 749 | ± 3.6% | 28% | 44% | 28% | |
| July 22, 2021 | 644 | ± 3.9% | 24% | 32% | 44% | |
| June 21, 2021 | 386 | ± 5.0% | 17% | 30% | 53% |
;with Robert Blackmon and Darden Rice
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Robert Blackmon | Darden Rice | Undecided |
| August 21, 2021 | 542 | ± 4.2% | 30% | 44% | 26% | |
| August 5, 2021 | 749 | ± 3.6% | 28% | 39% | 31% | |
| July 22, 2021 | 644 | ± 3.9% | 23% | 32% | 45% | |
| June 21, 2021 | 386 | ± 5.0% | 18% | 28% | 54% |
;with Darden Rice and Ken Welch
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Darden Rice | Ken Welch | Undecided |
| August 21, 2021 | 542 | ± 4.2% | 23% | 55% | 23% | |
| August 5, 2021 | 749 | ± 3.6% | 25% | 47% | 27% | |
| July 22, 2021 | 644 | ± 3.9% | 25% | 36% | 39% | |
| June 21, 2021 | 386 | ± 5.0% | 21% | 36% | 44% | |
| May 13, 2021 | 527 | ± 4.3% | 24% | 31% | 45% | |
| March 2, 2021 | 581 | ± 4.1% | 24% | 31% | 46% |