Congressman and Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds (R-FL) announced the endorsements of 17 additional state law enforcement following his Republican primary victory in his bid for governor this week.
The endorsements include.
- Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods
- Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly
- Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell
- St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick
- Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood
- Putnam County Sheriff Gator DeLoach
- Taylor County Sheriff Wayne Padgett
- Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson
- Nassau County Sheriff Billy Leeper
- Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells
- Hardee County Sheriff Vent Crawford
- Osceola County Sheriff Chris Blackmon
- Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis
- Citrus County Sheriff David Vincent
- Dixie County Sheriff Darby Butler
- Gulf County Sheriff Mike Harrison
- Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum
"Florida is the law and order state. I am honored to have the endorsement of 17 more Florida sheriffs who know I’ll always back the blue and keep our communities safe," Donalds wrote. "@bryanavilaFL and I will always stand with the men and women who wear the badge."
Former State Sen. Bryan Avila was chosen as Rep. Donalds' lieutenant governor during a press conference at the Freedom Tower at Miami-Dade College in Miami earlier this week.
Rep. Donalds defeated Lt. Gov. Collins, former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, businessman James Fishback, and several others in the Republican primary with 48% of the vote on Aug. 18. Notably, nine of those sheriffs endorsed Collins prior to his defeat, including Sheriff Chitwood, Sheriff Billy Woods, Sheriff Bill Leeper, Sheriff Blackmon, Sheriff Crawford, Sheriff Wells, Sheriff McCallum, Sheriff Padgett, and Sheriff Johnson.
The reconsideration also coincides with Renner joining Rep. Donalds in his run for governor at a rally earlier this week. Donalds had already received a majority of support from Florida sheriffs in his run.
Donalds is competing against Democratic challenger David Jolly in the general election on Nov. 3.
