Ron DeSantis touts Ashley Moody and sheriffs’ endorsements in home state campaign stop

Gov. Ron DeSantis collected five dozen endorsements from Florida’s Attorney General and Sheriffs in Tampa, as he takes a break from out-of-state campaigning to consolidate in-state support for his presidential campaign.

Though the vast majority of endorsers are Republican, a smattering of Democrats and even two Sheriffs without party affiliation are backing their home state Governor, amid polling showing him more than 30 points behind Donald Trump in Florida.

Sheriffs shied away from DeSantis by and large in his 2018 race against Adam Putnam, who had relationships at the time the then-Congressman couldn’t match. But in the General Election against Andrew Gillum, the law officers quickly folded in behind the Republican amid a narrative that Democrat Gillum was anti-police. By the time the 2022 re-election came around, Sheriffs quickly fell in line.

Judging from Thursday’s events, they have stayed there since.

DeSantis referred to his recent travels in introduction, letting the Sheriffs know that law enforcement elsewhere envied their position.

“We were just out in California last week for the presidential debate in the Reagan Library in southern California. And I ran into a Police Chief for one of the municipalities. I said, ‘how are you all doing? How’s it going?’ He’s like, ‘Well, we’re good. It’s just all my officers want to move to Florida now.'”

The Governor noted that people want to come to Florida to “serve in uniform” as a result of Florida’s pro-police policies, and that Florida has been the “focus of freedom” since the beginning of the pandemic, leaving “lockdown states” in pursuit of what his state offers.

Many of his remarks were a walk down memory lane, such as when he contended that the “BLM riots” wouldn’t have happened without “the COVID lockdowns,” as they “created a lot of pent-up anger in people that led to that.”

The Governor’s campaign provided statements ahead of the event, including from the Attorney General and two sheriffs known for being live quotes.

“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.”

“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 Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk.

“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.”

The full list of law enforcement officials endorsing the Governor is below, organized in alphabetical order by county as provided by the DeSantis campaign.

— Sheriff Emery Gainey, an Alachua Republican.

— Sheriff Scotty Rhoden, a Baker Republican.

— Sheriff Tommy Ford, a Bay Republican.

— Sheriff George Paul “Gordon” Smith, a Bradford Republican.

— Sheriff Wayne Ivey, a Brevard Republican.

— Sheriff Glenn H. Kimbrel, a Calhoun Democrat.

— Sheriff William G. “Bill” Prummell Jr., a Charlotte Republican.

— Sheriff Mike Prendergast, a Citrus Republican.

— Sheriff Michelle Cook, a Clay Republican.

— Sheriff Kevin J. Rambosk, a Collier Republican.

— Sheriff Mark A. Hunter of Columbia, no party affiliation.

— Sheriff James F. Potter, a Desoto Republican.

— Sheriff Darby Butler, a Dixie Republican.

— Sheriff T.K. Waters, a Duval Republican.

— Sheriff Chip Simmons, an Escambia Republican.

— Sheriff Rick Staly, a Flagler Republican.

— Sheriff A.J. Smith, a Franklin Republican.

— Sheriff Morris A. Young, a Gadsden Democrat.

— Sheriff Bobby Schultz, a Gilchrist Republican.

— Sheriff David Hardin, a Glades Republican.

— Sheriff Mike Harrison, a Gulf Republican.

— Sheriff J. Harrell Reid, a Hamilton Republican.

— Sheriff Vent Crawford, a Hardee Republican.

— Sheriff Stephen H. “Steve” Whidden, a Hendry Republican.

— Sheriff Al Nienhuis, a Hernando Republican.

— Sheriff Paul Blackman, a Highlands Republican.

— Sheriff Chad Chronister, a Hillsborough Republican.

— Sheriff John Tate, a Holmes Republican.

— Sheriff Eric Flowers, an Indian River Republican.

— Sheriff Donald L. Edenfield, a Jackson Republican.

— Sheriff Alfred Kenneth “Mac” McNeill Jr., a Jefferson Republican.

— Sheriff Brian N. Lamb, a Lafayette Republican.

— Sheriff Peyton C. Grinnell, a Lake Republican.

— Sheriff Carmine Marceno, a Lee Republican.

— Sheriff Robert “Bobby” McCallum, a Levy Republican.

— Sheriff Buddy Money, a Liberty Republican.

— Sheriff David Harper, a Madison Republican.

— Sheriff Charles R. Wells, a Manatee Republican.

— Sheriff Billy Woods, a Marion Republican.

— Sheriff William Snyder, a Martin Republican.

— Sheriff Rick Ramsay, a Monroe Republican.

— Sheriff Bill Leeper, a Nassau Republican.

— Sheriff Eric Aden, an Oklaloosa Republican.

— Sheriff Noel E. Stephen, an Okeechobee Republican.

— Sheriff Chris Nocco, a Pasco Republican.

— Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, a Pinellas Republican.

— Sheriff Judd, a Polk Republican.

— Sheriff H. D. “Gator” DeLoach III, a Putnam Republican.

— Sheriff Robert Johnson, a Santa Rosa Republican.

— Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman, a Sarasota Republican.

— Sheriff Dennis M. Lemma, a Seminole Republican.

— Sheriff Robert A. Hardwick, a St. Johns Republican.

— Sheriff William O. “Bill” Farmer Jr., a Sumter Republican.

— Sheriff Sam St. John, a Suwannee Republican.

— Sheriff Wayne Padgett, a Taylor Republican.

— Sheriff Brad Whitehead, a Union Republican.

— Sheriff Mike Chitwood of Volusia, no party affiliation.

— Sheriff Jared Miller, a Wakulla Republican.

— Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson Jr., a Walton Republican.

— Sheriff Kevin Crews, a Washington Republican.