St. Petersburg City Council member Richie Floyd is running for re-election, framing his campaign as a continuation of a grassroots effort focused on affordability, tenant protections and fighting corporate influence in local government.
Floyd’s first run for office four years ago was centered on a promise to help build a city that “works for everyone.” He said his tenure on the City Council has included fighting for tenant protections, opposing corporate handouts and working to improve neighborhood safety, while navigating resistance from what he described as an entrenched political status quo.
Floyd, a Democrat who was recently named as Vice Chair of the City Council, announced his re-election campaign in a video. He said the City Council has delivered on his campaign promises, and that his re-election bid is aimed at creating a city that is both affordable and sustainable, with a particular focus on utilities and infrastructure.
He criticized profit-driven utility models and said St. Petersburg should invest more heavily in water and stormwater systems to make them more resilient and reliable.
“For the last four years, we’ve been delivering on that promise,” Floyd said in the Monday video.
“Fighting for tenant protections, pushing back on corporate handouts, and working to make our neighborhood streets safer because St. Pete residents deserve a city that we can afford to call home. It hasn’t been easy, we’ve been up against a political status quo that refuses to make bold changes in favor of everyday people, but we need to invest in doing the difficult work that makes people’s lives better.”
First elected in 2021, Floyd ran a grassroots campaign powered by small-dollar donations and volunteer support, according to his campaign website. He is a Florida native who previously worked as an electrical engineer and as a science teacher with Pinellas County Schools. He lives in the Central Oak Park neighborhood with his wife, Miranda, and became involved in civic and political organizing after moving to St. Petersburg.
According to his campaign, Floyd supports building mixed-income, city-owned social housing, expanding small-scale housing options and providing legal assistance to tenants facing eviction. His platform also calls for limiting short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods. Floyd also criticized approaches that subsidize landlords while rents continue to rise, saying the city should instead pursue policies that deliver meaningful affordability for residents.
Floyd’s campaign highlights several actions taken during his time on the City Council, including expanded tenant rights, increased funding for street safety projects, a resolution defending reproductive health care rights and efforts to lower base utility fees. His policy agenda also includes increasing developer impact fees, opposing large corporate tax subsidies, investing more in city employees and expanding public arts programs beyond the downtown core.
In the campaign video, Floyd said he will continue to push back against state and federal policies he believes marginalize communities, pledging to stand up for minority and LGBTQ residents. His campaign materials also emphasize opposition to what he describes as abuses tied to immigration enforcement.
Floyd said grassroots involvement remains central to his campaign, encouraging residents to volunteer, donate what they can and engage their neighbors as he seeks another term on the City Council.
“That’s why I’m running for re-election to create a St. Pete that’s affordable, sustainable, and pushes back against those profiting off of our existence,” Floyd said.
