Charlie Crist-aligned committee raises nearly another $500K, surpasses $1.2M

The political committee supporting Charlie Crist should he run for St. Petersburg Mayor, St. Pete Shines, raised more than $475,000 in the first quarter of 2026, bringing the committee’s total collections to more than $1.2 million.

Crist, who previously served as both Governor and the U.S. Representative for Florida’s 13th Congressional District, has not officially entered the race for Mayor. But when he does, he’ll be a leading contender.

Of the funds raised, Crist maintains $1.1 million on hand. The committee spent a little less than $45,000 in the first quarter.

“The growing coalition of diverse donors to the committee reflects just how strongly people believe in our vision for a brighter future for St. Petersburg,” St. Pete Shines Chair Michelle Todd Schorsch said. “We are incredibly grateful to all of those who have supported our efforts.”

Notable donors include former U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos; former Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink; independent state Sen. Jason Pizzo; former lawmakers Nancy Argenziano, Ben Diamond and John McKay; Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil; Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano; former Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz; former First Lady of St. Petersburg Joyce Baker; former Pinellas GOP Chair Paul Bedinghaus and Commissioner Jay Beyrouti; Madeira Beach City Commissioner Housh Ghovaee; and former St. Pete City Council member Jim Kennedy.

Several prominent Florida lobbyists also contributed, including Ballard Partners, Melissa Kuipers Blake, Todd Josko, Jonathan Kilman, Gene McGee, Christian Minor, McGuireWoods, Jared Rosenstein, Elnatan Rudolph, Stephanie Smith, Amanda Stewart and Eileen Stuart.

The top donation came from Seminole Gaming, which cut a check for $50,000.

The report comes the same week St. Pete Shines launched a pro-Crist advertisement to coincide with the Tampa Bay Rays’ Opening Day. The ad featured Crist celebrating St. Pete’s rich baseball history. It hinted at leadership change in the city, pointing to important decisions still to be made, but otherwise served as an opportunity to reintroduce Crist to the people of St. Pete.

St. Pete Shines has raised more than incumbent Mayor Ken Welch’s combined total between two political committees supporting him. A third, established to replace The Pelican Political Action Committee after a consultant allegedly stole more than $200,000 from it, has not yet reported fundraising for the first quarter. The Pelican Political Action Committee had been established to replace Welch’s first committee, The Pelican PAC, after the state revoked it for consistently failing to file certain required documents.

Further, Crist’s fundraising in the first quarter is more than Welch raised throughout all of 2025.

Campaign finance reports, which will outline Welch’s most recent earnings, are due April 10. Crist reported his fundraising activity ahead of that deadline. As of the end of 2025, he had just $32,000 on hand.

Recent polling found Crist leading all mayoral candidates, including Welch, with 23% support compared to just 19% for Welch. All other candidates, including St. Pete City Council member Brandi Gabbard, former St. Pete Fire Chief Jim Large, former Shore Acres Neighborhood Association President Kevin Batdorf and perennial candidate Maria Scruggs, were in single digits.

Importantly though, 42% of respondents remained undecided. That means access to resources will be critical in reaching undecided voters.

Welch’s finance reports will offer key insight into whether he’ll be able to be competitive amid the backdrop of Crist’s sizable war chest. Meanwhile, finance reports for other candidates could indicate whether anyone might emerge as a possible contender.

As of Wednesday morning, only the pro-Crist committee had disclosed first quarter financial activity.

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Ed. Note: Michelle Todd Schorsch is the Chair of St. Pete Shines, a political committee expected to back Crist for St. Petersburg Mayor. Todd Schorsch is married to Peter Schorsch, the publisher of Florida Politics.