Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gaultieri has become the 36th county sheriff to endorse Rep. Byron Donalds’ 2026 gubernatorial campaign.
Sheriff Gualtieri said in a statement that he believes because “crime is an at an all-time low” keeping Floridians safe is paramount, and Donalds is the “best person for the job” to do just that.
“We need Byron Donalds as the next governor of Florida,” said Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri. “Crime is at an all-time low and to keep Florida safe, we need a law-and-order Governor who supports law enforcement; the best person for the job is Byron Donalds.”
Gualtieri’s show of support piles on to the mountain of political endorsements Rep. Donalds has received, since officially entering the race including the support of President Donald Trump and 17 fellow members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Byron Donalds is the proven law and order candidate for Florida governor,” said Ryan Smith Chief Strategist for the Byron Donalds Campaign. “He is the only candidate for governor fighting against the Democrats’ soft-on-crime agenda. As governor, he will work with Florida law enforcement and President Trump to keep Florida one of the safest states in the nation.”
Sheriff Eric Aden (Okaloosa) and Sheriff David Harper (Madison) have recently join Calhoun County Sheriff Michael Bryant, Franklin County Sheriff AJ Smith, Jefferson County Sheriff Mac McNeill, and Liberty County Sheriff Dusty Arnold. this week to support Donalds' campaign.
Oh, and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd is also on the list of endorsers.
Donalds is running in a Republican primary race against Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and former Speaker of the Florida House Paul Renner.
The 2026 primary election will take place on August 18th.
