St. Petersburg, FLVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

St. Petersburg Mayor & City Council Election 2026

2 of 8

council seats up

3 contests

6 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Mayor · 1 seat

City Council District 2 · 1 seat

City Council District 6 · 1 seat

Three contests are on this ballot: mayor and the District 2 and District 6 council seats. In November all three are citywide, so every St. Petersburg voter picks one candidate in each.

4 notes on these statements

In the Aug. 18 primary, Charlie Crist received 35% and Ken Welch 20.5% in a six-candidate mayoral field; since neither topped 50%, both advanced to Nov. 3. St. Pete Catalyst · Aug 19, 2026

Lisset Hanewicz (District 4) and Richie Floyd (District 8; listed as Richmond Floyd) won new terms without appearing on the ballot. Ballotpedia

The District 2 and District 6 seats are open because Brandi Gabbard and Gina Driscoll are leaving due to term limits. Tampa Bay Times · Sep 27, 2026

Charlie Crist and Ken Welch are scheduled to meet in a televised debate hosted by Bay News 9 on Oct. 13. Axios Tampa Bay · Sep 28, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Deborah Figgs-SandersCouncil member, District 5; term ends January 20293sourcedRichie FloydCouncil member, District 8; re-elected in 2026 without appearing on the ballot4sourcedCopley GerdesCouncil member, District 1; term ends January 20294sourcedCorey Givens Jr.Council member, District 7; term ends January 20292sourcedLisset HanewiczCouncil member, District 4; re-elected in 2026 without appearing on the ballot4sourcedMike HartingCouncil member, District 3; term ends January 20292sourced

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesCity property tax rate, Historic Gas Plant District (Tropicana Field site), Duke Energy and a city-owned electric utilityKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Voter registration deadline

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

City property tax rate

Where it standsThe council kept the 2026-27 rate at 6.4525 mills in a 6-2 vote on Sept. 17, 2026; Corey Givens Jr. and Gina Driscoll voted no.

What's on the tableThe mayor proposes the budget each year and the council sets the tax rate, including how to respond if a larger state homestead exemption cuts city revenue.

  • The adopted 6.4525-mill rate is about 1.05% above the rolled-back rate of 6.3854 mills, and the city expects about $14.8 million more in property tax revenue. St. Pete Catalyst · Sep 18, 2026
  • The final budget includes about $1.02 billion in operating spending; public safety is about 55% of the roughly $437.3 million General Fund. St. Pete Catalyst · Sep 18, 2026
  • Charlie Crist has pledged to cut the rate by 0.40 mills, to 6.0525, in his first budget, which he says would return about $14.8 million a year. Charlie Crist for Mayor

Historic Gas Plant District (Tropicana Field site)

Where it standsIn July 2026 Mayor Ken Welch selected The Burg Bid team for most of the 86-acre site and the Pinellas County Housing Authority for an 80-unit senior housing parcel; agreements are still to be negotiated.

What's on the tableThe council must approve any final development agreement before ground can be broken on the site.

  • The Burg Bid proposal includes more than 3,600 units of affordable and workforce housing, new public infrastructure, a large park and a workforce training center. City of St. Petersburg · Jul 2, 2026
  • In February 2026 the council voted 6-2 for a non-binding resolution asking the mayor to pause developer selection; Deborah Figgs-Sanders and Copley Gerdes voted no. St. Pete Catalyst · Feb 5, 2026
  • The Tampa City Council and the Hillsborough County Commission approved binding agreements in August 2026 for a new Rays stadium at Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry Campus. Tampa Bay Times · Aug 30, 2026

Duke Energy and a city-owned electric utility

Where it standsThe city's 30-year franchise agreement with Duke Energy expired July 31, 2026, while a consultant studies whether the city should run its own electric utility.

What's on the tableThe council will weigh a new Duke Energy franchise against pursuing a city-owned utility once the study is done.

$600 million stormwater and sewer bond

Where it standsVoters decide on Nov. 3 whether the city may issue up to $600 million in general obligation bonds for storm resilience, wastewater and drinking water projects.

What's on the tableIf voters approve, the next council and mayor will oversee how the bond money is borrowed and spent.

Affordable housing spending

Where it standsThe council unanimously approved $40.85 million in federal disaster-recovery money for six affordable rental projects with 645 units.

What's on the tableThe council approves city housing subsidies and land deals, including how much public money goes into each home.

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. St. Petersburg's city property tax rate is 6.4525 mills. What should the city do with it?

  2. 2. How should the city handle redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant (Tropicana Field) site?

  3. 3. Should St. Petersburg work toward replacing Duke Energy with a city-owned electric utility?

  4. 4. Should the city borrow up to $600 million, repaid by a new property tax, to speed up stormwater and sewer projects?

  5. 5. Should the city fund affordable housing deals that cost close to $500,000 in subsidy per home, like Deuces Rising?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

The seat math

6 stay (not up this year): Deborah Figgs-Sanders, Richie Floyd, Copley Gerdes, Corey Givens Jr., Lisset Hanewicz, Mike Harting2 on this ballot

8 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 5-vote majority.

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