State Sen. Darryl Rouson, who has been active in St. Petersburg politics for almost 20 years, is backing former Gov. Charlie Crist for Mayor.

Rouson also said he is not taking back his support for current Mayor Ken Welch. He is still unsure who he will vote for, but he thinks “both Ken and Charlie should make it out of the Primary.”

“I believe Charlie meets the threshold to lead our city,” Rouson said. He added, “Crist has spent his entire life serving our community, guided by a commitment to shared values, bringing people together and uplifting his fellow citizens.”

“I have known Charlie for decades and have seen firsthand his integrity and dedication to public service,” Rouson said.

“Throughout his career, Charlie has demonstrated leadership with compassion, integrity, and has always put people before politics. Those qualities have earned my lifelong respect and admiration, and that is why I believe he, too, would make an outstanding Mayor for our city.”

Although Rouson is still backing Welch, his endorsement of Crist could be a big advantage for the former Governor and U.S. Representative.

Rouson was elected to the House in 2008 and to the Senate in 2016. He will leave office this year because of term limits, ending a legislative career of about 18 years.

Rouson is a highly trusted leader in the city’s Black community. By supporting both Crist and Welch, he sends a strong message to Black residents, some of whom may not want to stop supporting the city’s first Black Mayor.

As the current Mayor, Welch is almost certain to be a front-runner in the race. Crist, however, has quickly become the other main contender, raising much more money than Welch.

Welch has also faced considerable criticism. During last week’s first mayoral debate, every candidate (except Welch) focused most of their criticism on him.

Crist released a new digital ad on Monday criticizing Welch for canceling a project with Moffitt Cancer Center during his first year as Mayor. Welch has also been criticized for how his administration handled the 2022 hurricanes, the failed deal with the Tampa Bay Rays for a new stadium in St. Pete, and ongoing problems with the city’s water billing.

This criticism, along with Rouson’s endorsement, could signal a change in the campaign as the August 18 Primary approaches.

The endorsement comes after new fundraising reports showed Crist’s political committee, St. Pete Shines, received another $283,000. In total, Crist has raised over $1.6 million. In comparison, Welch raised less than half of that in the latest period, and his committee has just over $300,000.

Welch and Crist are not the only candidates in the race. City Council member Brandi Gabbard, former fire chief Jim Large, prison administrator Maria Scruggs, and former Shore Acres Neighborhood Association President Kevin Batdorf are also running. However, none have matched Welch’s or Crist’s fundraising, and polls show the race will likely come down to the incumbent and the former Governor.

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