PRESS RELEASE: LGBTQ Champion Rick Kriseman Edges Baker In Primary With Runoff Next
LGBTQ Champion Rick Kriseman Edges Baker In Primary With Runoff Next
LGBTQ Support for Rick Kriseman Plays Defining Role
St. Petersburg, FL — Tonight the race for Mayor of St. Petersburg narrowed to two candidates, as incumbent Mayor Rick Kriseman edged out Rick Baker. Kriseman’s solid support for the LGBTQ community secured him the Equality Florida Action PAC endorsement. Baker previously served two terms as mayor and his tenure was marked by hostility toward the LGBTQ community.
In the final two weeks of the St. Petersburg Primary Election Equality Florida Action PAC made 12,000 calls to 6,000 pro-equality voters about the election and launched an aggressive social media program reaching thousands of people in support of Mayor Kriseman.
“Tonight we proved we know who our true friend is,” said Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida. “Mayor Kriseman’s stellar record stands in stark contrast to Rick Baker who as mayor treated us with indifference and contempt. We made sure people remembered that in the primary, and we will be back in November.”