Three candidates challenging Mayor Ken Welch outraised the incumbent through their campaign accounts during the latest fundraising period, according to newly filed campaign finance reports.
Former Gov. Charlie Crist led the field, raising nearly $71,000 between April 1 and June 12. District 2 Councilmember Brandi Gabbard reported more than $32,000, including a $5,000 candidate loan, while former St. Petersburg Fire Chief Jim Large raised just over $29,000.
Welch reported nearly $23,000 raised through his campaign account during the same period.
Crist continues to dominate fundraising. His campaign spent relatively little during the reporting period, roughly $15,500, leaving more than $55,000 cash-on-hand in his candidate account.
That advantage becomes even more pronounced when political committees are included. Crist’s committee, St. Pete Shines, raised more than $282,000 during its latest reporting period and has collected nearly $1.5 million since launching.
Welch’s campaign operation remains heavily supported by his political committee, St. Petersburg Progress. While his campaign account raised less than several challengers, the committee reported roughly $114,000 in its latest filing and more than $300,000 overall.
Welch’s campaign spent approximately $29,000 during the period, leaving about $19,000 in the candidate account.
Gabbard’s latest filing represents a significant jump from the early stages of her campaign. After raising just over $4,000 before formally launching her bid, she reported more than $32,000 in the most recent period.
Even excluding her $5,000 candidate loan, Gabbard still brought in more direct contributions than Welch. Her campaign spent nearly $19,000 and ended the reporting period with approximately $17,000 on hand.
Large also surpassed Welch in direct fundraising, reporting more than $29,000 raised and roughly $19,000 spent. His campaign account currently holds more than $65,000, though that figure includes a $30,000 contribution Large made to his own campaign earlier in the race.
His political committee, A Better Burg, has raised more than $50,000 overall and currently holds about $40,000.
Meanwhile, Maria Scruggs and Kevin Batdorf remain well behind the race’s top fundraising tier. Scruggs reported raising just over $1,000 during the period, while Batdorf brought in roughly $2,700.
The fundraising reports arrive as candidates continue a busy debate schedule heading into the summer. The six-person field has already participated in multiple public forums, with another candidate event scheduled this week.
The St. Petersburg mayoral primary is Aug. 18.