Ken Welch wins election to become the first Black mayor in St. Petersburg, Florida

Democrat Ken Welch will serve as St. Petersburg’s next Mayor.Welch will also be the city’s first Black Mayor.

The former Pinellas County Commissioner defeated City Council member Robert Blackmon with 60% of the vote to Blackmon’s 40%, with all precincts reporting, according to unofficial results from the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections office.

Welch will replace incumbent Mayor Rick Kriseman, who is leaving office because of term limits.