Peter Schorsch
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister is endorsing Suzy Lopez for State Attorney of the 13th Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County.
Lopez is seeking her first election to the seat, which she currently holds after being appointed to the post by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year. Her appointment came after DeSantis suspended and ultimately removed former State Attorney Andrew Warren, citing Warren’s refusal to enforce certain laws, such as bans on abortion and gender-affirming surgery.
Chronister supported Warren’s removal. He told ABC Action News following the suspension that Warren had been “acting as a legislator and dismissing laws.” Now Chronister is backing the woman who replaced Warren.
“An advocate for crime victims who tirelessly pursues justice in the courtroom, Suzy Lopez has restored Hillsborough County law enforcement’s faith in the State Attorney’s Office. Suzy stands with our community in the fight against violent crime and is holding more of these offenders accountable. Tampa Bay is a safer place because of Suzy Lopez, and I am pleased to endorse her for State Attorney,” Chronister said.
Prior to appointing Lopez to the State Attorney role last year, DeSantis had tapped her to serve as a Hillsborough County judge. Before that, she served as an Assistant State Attorney in the 13th Judicial Circuit since 2005.
“I am deeply grateful to have Sheriff Chronister’s endorsement,” Lopez said. “The safety of our families is my highest priority. That means standing with law enforcement, upholding the law, and keeping criminals off our streets. I am proud to work with Sheriff Chronister and the tremendous men and women of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office to protect Hillsborough County.”
Warren, meanwhile, may run again for the seat. Voters already elected him twice before DeSantis removed him. In early October, Warren announced he was opening a campaign account to “keep multiple options on the table.”
Lopez’s campaign responded to that move, signaling they were taking the challenge seriously.
In a statement, the campaign said Warren had “left Hillsborough families less safe” and that, under his leadership, “partnership with law enforcement were broken, crime victims’ families were ignored, and he put politics over public safety.”
Warren, meanwhile, claims Lopez is “an illegal political appointee.” While a federal judge did find that DeSantis violated the Constitution when he removed Warren from office, he stopped short of reappointing Warren, arguing he lacked the authority to do so.
Lopez has raised more than $86,000 for her campaign as of the end of September. Because Warren opened his account in October, financial reports have not yet been filed.
