Byron Donald Receives Support from Florida Sheriffs in Governor Race
Rep. Byron Donald (R-FL), a candidate for governor looking to succeed Ron DeSantis (R), has gained the endorsement of Florida’s top 15 sheriffs, marking him as a “law and order” candidate.
Additionally, Donald has secured backing from former President Donald Trump. He highlighted this approval on Monday as 15 sheriffs from across Florida expressed their support for his campaign. It’s important to note that DeSantis is unable to run for governor again due to term limits.
Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco stated in a written message that Donald is “the leader Florida needs at this moment” and expressed enthusiasm about working with Trump to fulfill the aims of the American people and their states.
Nocco conveyed confidence in Donald’s commitment to law enforcement and mentioned that he sees Donald as “innovative in his ideas for job creation, education improvement, and making Florida’s economy more competitive.”
“Florida is fortunate to have the incredible legacies of Gov. Rick Scott and Gov. Ron DeSantis. We trust that future Gov. Byron Donald will carry on that legacy and help keep Florida great,” he remarked.
Similarly, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivy praised Donald, calling him a “proven, non-nonsense champion” who places constitutional values first. Ivy noted that Donald’s commitment to being tougher on crime and criminals is a priority.
The 15 sheriffs endorsing Donald include:
- Sheriff Gordon Smith, Bradford County
- Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivy
- Collier County Sheriff Kevin Lambosk
- Duval County Sheriff TK Waters
- Hendry County Sheriff Steve Widd
- Hillsboro County Sheriff Chad Cronister
- Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers
- Jackson County Sheriff Donnie Edenfield
- Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno
- Martin County Sheriff John Budensik
- Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Koldero Statz
- Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay
- Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco
- St. Lucy County Sheriff Richard Dello
- Wakula County Sheriff Jared Miller
Donald expressed his appreciation for the support he received, stating he is “100% committed to law and order” and aims to keep Florida the safest state in the nation, which includes protecting residents from “illegal criminal aliens.”
A recent survey, following Donald’s endorsements, showed promising results for his gubernatorial bid. It suggested that he is positioning himself strongly against potential major opponents.
The initial survey posed a “theoretical” vote involving Donald, Collins, and Renner. In this scenario, Donald garnered 40%, while Collins and Renner received 2% each, with a significant portion—54%—still uncertain.
In a subsequent “informed” vote, where voters had more context about the candidates, Donald’s support surged to 57%. Collins remained at 2%, and Renner received 1%, with 38% of voters still undecided.
In an interview earlier this month, Donald criticized a segment of the Democratic Party, urging them to address internal issues. He described the radical left as lacking coherent policies and resorting to name-calling, stating their current narrative of labeling opponents as fascists is misleading.
He concluded by emphasizing the need for accountability within the party, mentioning a faction that undermines constitutional rights and free speech.
