Republican Ron DeSantis received endorsements for president from 60 bipartisan Florida law enforcement officers, a larger number of endorsements than received in his 2022 gubernatorial re-elect. It is also welcomed political momentum in his race against former President Donald Trump, who is leading the Republican primary.
The law enforcement endorsements come as the DeSantis campaign says it is being recognized in early nominating states for his actions as Governor to “back the blue” and for signing strong anti-crime laws, resulting in a 50-year low crime rate in Florida.
“Ron DeSantis has been unwavering in his support for law enforcement, which is why I am proud to endorse him today to be the next president of the United States,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, a Republican. “Our nation needs a leader who will bring back law and order to our communities. The people in the major metropolitan areas deserve to be safe, too. As President of the United States, he will fight to curtail runaway violent crime.”
In January 2022, a bipartisan group of 59 sheriffs endorsed DeSantis for Governor of Florida, dubbing him the “Law and Order” governor.
“Ron DeSantis doesn’t just talk about backing the blue, he has delivered results for law enforcement officers and their families, from pay raises and bonuses to ensuring they have what they need to do their job and being very clear that he is on the side of law and order,” said Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, a Republican. “Crime has gotten out of control in this country, but not in Florida. America desperately needs Ron DeSantis to go into the White House on Day One and replace Joe Biden’s soft-on-crime policies with his agenda to back the blue and protect our communities.”
Governor DeSantis enacted numerous new laws to support law enforcement, including signing bonuses of up to $5,000 for new officers, resulting in law enforcement from across the country fleeing to Florida. He has also enacted tough-on-crime laws, such as increasing sentences for drug traffickers that target children and dealing out the death penalty to child rapists.
The full list of law enforcement officials endorsing DeSantis is below:
Sheriff Emery Gainey (R – Alachua)
Sheriff Scotty Rhoden (R – Baker)
Sheriff Tommy Ford (R – Bay)
Sheriff George Paul “Gordon” Smith (R – Bradford)
Sheriff Wayne Ivey (R – Brevard)
Sheriff Glenn H. Kimbrel (D – Calhoun)
Sheriff William G. “Bill” Prummell, Jr. (R – Charlotte)
Sheriff Mike Prendergast (R – Citrus)
Sheriff Michelle Cook (R – Clay)
Sheriff Kevin J. Rambosk (R – Collier)
Sheriff Mark A. Hunter (NPA – Columbia)
Sheriff James F. Potter (R – Desoto)
Sheriff Darby Butler (R – Dixie)
Sheriff T.K. Waters (R – Duval)
Sheriff Chip Simmons (R – Escambia)
Sheriff Rick Staly (R – Flagler)
Sheriff A.J. Smith (R – Franklin)
Sheriff Morris A. Young (D – Gadsden)
Sheriff Bobby Schultz (R – Gilchrist)
Sheriff David Hardin (R – Glades)
Sheriff Mike Harrison (R – Gulf)
Sheriff J. Harrell Reid (R – Hamilton)
Sheriff Vent Crawford (R – Hardee)
Sheriff Stephen H. “Steve” Whidden (R – Hendry)
Sheriff Al Nienhuis (R – Hernando)
Sheriff Paul Blackman (R – Highlands)
Sheriff Chad Chronister (R – Hillsborough)
Sheriff John Tate (R – Holmes)
Sheriff Eric Flowers, (R – Indian River)
Sheriff Donald L. Edenfield (R – Jackson)
Sheriff Alfred Kenneth “Mac” McNeill, Jr. (R – Jefferson)
Sheriff Brian N. Lamb (R – Lafayette)
Sheriff Peyton C. Grinnell (R – Lake)
Sheriff Carmine Marceno (R – Lee)
Sheriff Robert “Bobby” McCallum (R – Levy)
Sheriff Buddy Money (R – Liberty)
Sheriff David Harper (R – Madison)
Sheriff Charles R. Wells (R – Manatee)
Sheriff Billy Woods (R – Marion)
Sheriff William Snyder (R – Martin)
Sheriff Rick Ramsay (R – Monroe)
Sheriff Bill Leeper (R – Nassau)
Sheriff Eric Aden (R – Oklaloosa)
Sheriff Noel E. Stephen (R – Okeechobee)
Sheriff Chris Nocco (R – Pasco)
Sheriff Bob Gualtieri (R – Pinellas)
Sheriff Grady Judd (R – Polk)
Sheriff H. D. “Gator” DeLoach III (R – Putnam)
Sheriff Robert Johnson (R – Santa Rosa)
Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman (R – Sarasota)
Sheriff Dennis M. Lemma (R – Seminole)
Sheriff Robert A. Hardwick (R – St. Johns)
Sheriff William O. “Bill” Farmer, Jr. (R – Sumter)
Sheriff Sam St. John (R – Suwannee)
Sheriff Wayne Padgett (R – Taylor)
Sheriff Brad Whitehead (R – Union)
Sheriff Mike Chitwood (NPA – Volusia)
Sheriff Jared Miller (R – Wakulla)
Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson, Jr. (R – Walton)
Sheriff Kevin Crews (R – Washington)
“As a leader, and as a family man, Ron DeSantis knows that supporting law enforcement is critical to keeping families and communities safe,” said Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. “Demonstrating that supporting law enforcement means more than just talk by securing bonuses, increased funding, and programs to support law enforcement families, Governor DeSantis has undoubtedly made this a stronger state. America’s Governor will take this same action focused and common-sense approach to Washington as President.”
