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The Decent Ballot  /  Pinellas County  /  St. Petersburg  /  Tuesday, November 3, 2026

St. Petersburg, FL

Who on your ballot seems like good people, in a sentence or two each, with sources. Fill out your ballot in ten minutes.

best choice in the race Seems like good people Compromised Not good people Not enough info

Who is running in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2026

St. Petersburg Mayor
Kenneth T. Welch and Charlie Crist
St. Petersburg City Council, District 2
Courtney Bermudez and Gabriel Hament
St. Petersburg City Council, District 6
Linsey Grove and Trevor Mallory

St. Petersburg elections

City races are nonpartisan. The city's bond and charter questions are in the Propositions section below.

Mayor

Vote for one

Kenneth T. Welch

Compromised (best choice in this race) Democrat

Incumbent since 2021, the city's first Black mayor; county commissioner 2000 to 2020

Points to more affordable housing and sustainability work in his first term. Critics fault the city's cleanup after Hurricanes Helene and Milton and the collapse of the Tropicana Field stadium deal with the Rays. Endorsed by the firefighters, SEIU, Equality Florida and the Suncoast Police Benevolent Association.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Fox 13, Equality Florida, Crow's Nest

Charlie Crist

Compromised Democrat

Governor 2007 to 2011; U.S. representative 2017 to 2022; former attorney general

Running on affordability and a better storm response. His campaign and its political committee took large donations from Tallahassee lobbyists tied to Duke Energy while the city weighs starting its own power utility.

Sources: Ballotpedia, WUSF, Florida Trib

City Council, District 2

Vote for one

Open seat. Council member Brandi Gabbard is term-limited. Both look like decent people; we give Bermudez the edge for her specific housing and utility plans.

Courtney Bermudez

Seems like good people (best choice in this race)

Licensed community association and property manager; former EMT

Wants affordable housing written into development contracts "in perpetuity" and backs the push to replace Duke Energy with a city-owned utility. Also running on stormwater and housing stability.

Sources: CityVerse

Gabriel Hament

Seems like good people

Assistant public defender, 13th Judicial Circuit; former investment adviser

Works as a public defender and once served on the Sarasota County Schools financial advisory committee. Has not held elected office.

Sources: Gateway District, Campaign site

City Council, District 6

Vote for one

Open seat. Council member Gina Driscoll is leaving.

Linsey Grove

Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Progressive

Public health practitioner; CEO of The Hypatia Collaborative; former president, League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area

Was vice chair of the county Charter Review Commission. Endorsed by SEIU Florida, Florida Rising, the Sierra Club, the Stonewall Democrats and the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund.

Sources: St. Pete Catalyst, Victory Fund

Trevor Mallory

Compromised Democrat

President of Neighborhood Home Solutions; former president, Democratic Black Caucus of Florida

Served on the city's affordable housing advisory committee and wants to help residents buy homes and avoid foreclosure. Endorsed by the Suncoast Police Benevolent Association, outgoing council member Gina Driscoll and former Mayor Rick Kriseman.

Sources: Campaign site, Tampa Bay Times

Also on your ballot

Every Pinellas County voter also picks in these races. Full write-ups on the Pinellas County page.

When and where to vote

Register by
Monday, October 5, 2026. That is the deadline for this election. Check your registration at registertovoteflorida.gov.
Early voting
Monday, October 19 to Sunday, November 1, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, at any of 7 sites, including the elections offices in St. Petersburg, Largo and Clearwater. Locations.
Election Day
Tuesday, November 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at your assigned polling place. Find yours.
Mail ballot
Request one by 5 p.m. Thursday, October 22 (online or 727-464-8683). All requests expire at the end of every even-numbered year, so request again if you haven't since 2024. The office must receive your signed ballot by 7 p.m. on Election Day; postmarks don't count. Track your ballot.
Drop boxes
From October 19 to November 1, staffed return sites are open at the early voting sites and at libraries, recreation centers and tax collector offices around the county; they close November 2 and 3. The three elections offices (13001 Starkey Rd., Largo; 315 Court St., Clearwater; 501 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg) take ballots through 7 p.m. on Election Day, and Largo has a drive-thru from October 19. Sites and hours (PDF).
Bring
A current photo ID with your signature, such as a Florida driver license or ID card, U.S. passport, debit or credit card, military ID, student ID or concealed weapon license. If the photo ID has no signature, bring a second ID that does. No ID? You can still vote a provisional ballot. Full list.
Your ballot
Every contest in the county is listed on the Supervisor of Elections general election page; look up your precinct for your own sample ballot. Florida leaves unopposed races off the ballot.

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Last updated October 4, 2026.