Poll: Ken Welch above water, but storm surge threatens to overtake him

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch’s approval rating among voters is higher than his disapproval rating, but only just barely, all but inviting a challenger to exploit his weaknesses.

A St. Pete Polls survey commissioned by Florida Politics finds that shy of 38% of respondents approve of the job Welch is doing as Mayor, with more than 34% disapproving, within the poll’s margin of error.

The last time an incumbent Mayor lost a re-election bid in St. Pete –
in 2013 when former Mayor Rick Kriseman unseated then-Mayor Bill Foster – Foster was polling with a higher favorability rating than Welch is now.

– Peter Schorsch, Florida Politics