Shock poll in St. Pete Mayor’s race

Former Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch is leading opponents by a significant margin, according to the latest survey of the St. Petersburg mayoral race by St. Pete Polls.

Welch leads the field of eight candidates with 20% support among respondents. Three candidates — Darden Rice, Wengay Newton and Robert Blackmon — are vying for the No. 2 spot in the poll, separated by less than one percentage point at 12-13%.

In hypothetical matchups in the General Election, Welch also leads both Rice and Blackmon. He leads Rice 36% to 21% and Blackmon 30% to 17%.

No other candidate broke 5% support.

– Janelle Irwin Taylor, Florida Politics