On September 29, 2025, U.S. Representative Byron Donalds, the Naples Republican and current Congressman, landed a significant boost for his campaign to become Florida’s next governor. In a coordinated announcement, Donalds revealed that 15 county sheriffs from across the Sunshine State had thrown their support behind his bid to succeed the term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis. The move signals a clear attempt to cement his status as the leading “law and order” candidate in what is shaping up to be a crowded and competitive Republican primary.
The roster of endorsing sheriffs reads like a who’s who of Florida law enforcement. It includes officials from some of the state’s most populous and politically influential counties: Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz, Duval County Sheriff T.K. Waters, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, and Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, among others. The full list spans the state’s diverse regions, from the Panhandle to South Florida, with sheriffs from Martin, St. Lucie, Jackson, Indian River, Brevard, Lee, Wakulla, Collier, Monroe, Bradford, and Hendry counties also backing Donalds (according to Florida Politics and multiple local outlets).
Donalds wasted no time expressing his gratitude for the law enforcement support. “I am incredibly honored to have the support of Sheriffs from across Florida,” he said in a statement echoed by all major Florida news outlets. “As Governor, I will be 100% committed to law and order and keeping Florida the safest state in the nation. I will stand in lockstep with our Sheriffs and law enforcement as we work to protect Florida from criminal illegal aliens, keep drugs off our streets, and implement strong public safety laws to protect our families.”
This message of unwavering support for law enforcement and tough-on-crime policies has been central to Donalds’ campaign platform from the outset. He has positioned himself as the candidate most committed to public safety, pledging to work closely with sheriffs and police to address everything from border security and illegal immigration to drug enforcement and criminal justice reform. As he put it, “I will stand in lockstep with our sheriffs and law enforcement as we work to protect Florida from criminal illegal aliens, keep drugs off our streets, and implement strong public safety laws to protect our families.”
The sheriffs themselves have not been shy in their praise for Donalds. Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, a high-profile figure in Florida law enforcement, described the congressman as a “proven no-nonsense champion for law enforcement who will always put our citizens, our cops, and our constitution first.” Ivey continued, “He is committed to being tough on crime and even tougher on criminals and will never tolerate woke policies that let criminals roam free. Under his leadership, criminals will be locked behind bars where they belong and those that came to our country illegally will continue to see that Florida has zero tolerance for those that can’t follow the laws of our great nation.”
Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, the first sheriff to formally endorse Donalds, highlighted the broader vision he believes Donalds brings to the table. “Congressman Byron Donalds is the leader that Florida needs in this moment, as we work and stand with President Trump to implement the mandate he received from the American people and the citizens of our great state of Florida,” Nocco said. “I know Congressman Donalds will stand with law enforcement as we work to keep Florida safe and will be innovative in his ideas to create jobs, improve education and make our economy more competitive. Florida has been blessed to have a fantastic legacy of Governors with Governor Rick Scott and Governor Ron DeSantis. I know future Governor Byron Donalds will continue that legacy and he will keep making Florida great.”
The timing and scope of these endorsements are no accident. According to reporting by the Florida Voice News and the James Madison Institute, Donalds’ campaign has moved swiftly to consolidate support among law enforcement, a key priority for many Republican primary voters. The coordinated announcement of 15 sheriff endorsements demonstrates not just popularity but also a sophisticated campaign strategy—showcasing broad-based support from officials voters trust to keep their communities safe.
Donalds’ law enforcement backing comes on the heels of a string of other high-profile endorsements. Earlier this year, he secured the support of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), and Florida Senator Rick Scott. But perhaps the biggest political prize arrived in February 2025, when former President Donald Trump gave Donalds his blessing. Trump, who won Florida by 13 points in the 2024 presidential election, remains a dominant force in state Republican politics. As noted by Florida Politics, Trump’s endorsement gave Donalds “an early touchdown in the race before things even really got going.”
The Republican primary, however, is far from a foregone conclusion. Recent polling from the James Madison Institute (as cited by Florida Politics and others) shows First Lady Casey DeSantis leading Donalds 26% to 23% among potential Republican primary voters. Other contenders, like former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins, and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, are also in the mix, albeit with smaller shares of support. Notably, a whopping 39% of likely primary voters remain undecided—an indicator that the race is still wide open and that endorsements like those from the sheriffs could prove pivotal as the field solidifies.
Casey DeSantis, for her part, has publicly discussed the possibility of running for governor but has yet to make a definitive commitment. Her potential candidacy casts a long shadow over the race, given her name recognition, political connections, and the implicit support of her husband’s political operation. For Donalds and his team, the law enforcement endorsements serve as a way to differentiate their campaign and build credibility on public safety issues, regardless of how the field ultimately shakes out.
Observers note that Donalds’ approach is resonating with a broad cross-section of Florida’s law enforcement community, from urban to rural, and from the Panhandle to the Keys. The sheriffs’ support, while a clear boost for his campaign, also underscores the importance of public safety and law enforcement credibility in Florida Republican politics. Whether this coalition will be enough to propel Donalds to the governor’s mansion remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly signals that the law-and-order message is shaping the early narrative of the 2026 race.
With the gubernatorial election set for November 3, 2026, and a fluid field of candidates, Florida’s voters will have plenty to consider. But for now, Byron Donalds has made it clear: when it comes to law enforcement, he’s got the backing—and he’s not shy about letting everyone know it.
