{"id":2626319,"date":"2026-07-07T20:24:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T00:24:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dem-nominee-who-narrowly-lost-florida-governors-race-to-desantis-jailed-on-drug-charges\/"},"modified":"2026-07-07T20:26:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T00:26:30","slug":"dem-nominee-who-narrowly-lost-florida-governors-race-to-desantis-jailed-on-drug-charges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dem-nominee-who-narrowly-lost-florida-governors-race-to-desantis-jailed-on-drug-charges\/","title":{"rendered":"Dem Nominee Who Narrowly Lost Florida Governor&#8217;s Race to DeSantis Jailed on Drug Charges"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdem-nominee-who-narrowly-lost-florida-governors-race-to-desantis-jailed-on-drug-charges%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2626319&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Democrat Andrew Gillum, who nearly defeated ron desantis in the 2018 Florida governor race, was recently arrested in Alabama on drug-related charges. He was taken into custody in Daphne, AL, and booked for possession of dangerous drugs, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana, then released on a $6,500 bond. Gillum faces potential prison time, with Alabama&#8217;s felony drug charges carrying up to five years in prison and fines up to $7,500. This incident is not Gillum\u2019s first legal trouble since his 2018 election loss, which was decided by just 0.4% of the vote. In 2020, he was found in a Miami Beach hotel room during a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-steel-town-seeks-afghan-workers-to-replace-americans\/\" title=\"Former Steel Town Seeks Afghan Workers to Replace Americans\">suspected drug overdose<\/a> but was not charged. Gillum has also faced allegations of corruption and has <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >publicly discussed entering rehab<\/a>. His legal issues and background contrast with Florida\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/actress-sarah-paulson-talks-finding-the-humanity-in-clinton-whistleblower-linda-tripp\/\" title=\"Actress Sarah Paulson Talks \u2018Finding The Hu...ity\u2019 In Clinton Whistleblower Linda Tripp\">current political landscape<\/a> under Governor Ron DeSantis, who has strengthened the state&#8217;s conservative reputation and secured re-election in 2022.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Democrat Andrew Gillum, who came within a hair of defeating a then-Florida congressman named Ron DeSantis in the race for governor of the Sunshine State in 2018, was jailed last week on drug charges.<\/p>\n<p>And the arrest last week in Alabama was not Gillum\u2019s first brush with the law since the former Tallahassee mayor lost to DeSantis nearly eight years ago.<\/p>\n<p>The news was first reported by TMZ, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/07\/07\/former-florida-governor-candidate-andrew-gillum-arrested-for-drug-possession-in-alabama\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">noted<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>G<em>illum was taken into custody Thursday night by officers in Daphne, AL, and then booked in the Baldwin County jail for possession of dangerous drugs, drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana, according to online police records. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>The Daphne PD has yet to release details on what led to his latest brush with the law.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Ex-Florida Democratic Governor Nominee Andrew Gillum Arrested For Drug Possession <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/XrZneyynHf\">https:\/\/t.co\/XrZneyynHf<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 TMZ (@TMZ) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TMZ\/status\/2074466779787669721?\">July 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/archives\/806085-gillum-arrested-on-drug-charges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">According to<\/a> Florida Politics and other outlets, the 46-year-old was picked up on numerous charges in Baldwin County, Alabama, which borders on Florida\u2019s Panhandle.<\/p>\n<p>Gillum was charged with possession of dangerous drugs, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana.<\/p>\n<p>He was released on $6,500 bond.<\/p>\n<p>As Florida Politics noted, Gillum could face serious prison time if he is convicted of the felony counts.<\/p>\n<p>In Alabama, a felony dangerous drugs charge comes with a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $7,500.<\/p>\n<p>The other two misdemeanors could see the former Florida Democratic nominee for governor jailed for an additional year and face a fine of $7,500.<\/p>\n<p>Gillum has a checkered history, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/huge-fl-dem-gillum-took-fbi-corruption-bait-used-family-excuse-caught\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">allegations of corruption<\/a> that arose during the heated gubernatorial campaign in 2018. Most notoriously, he was found in a Miami Beach hotel room with another man in 2020 amid an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/photos-gillums-wild-drug-alcohol-fueled-night-go-public-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">apparent drug binge<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Police were accompanying paramedics who were responding to a report of a man overdosed in the room.<\/p>\n<p>As The Miami Herald <a href=\"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/news\/politics-government\/article241165641.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">noted<\/a>, no charges were ultimately filed.<\/p>\n<p>While methamphetamine was found in the room, police could not charge Gillum or the other man because the drug was not on their person.<\/p>\n<p>The other man was later identified as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/gillums-overdosed-friend-actually-gay-sex-worker-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gay male escort<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Gillum announced he was<a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ap-ex-florida-governor-candidate-andrew-gillum-announces-going-rehab-hotel-incident\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> entering rehab<\/a> after the incident became public.<\/p>\n<p>Gillum <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/election-results\/2018\/florida\/governor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lost his bid<\/a> to become the governor of Florida in November 2018 by just 32,463 votes \u2014 a difference decided by just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/election-results\/2018\/florida\/governor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">0.4 percent<\/a> of the more than 8 million votes cast.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Let\u2019s not forget about this\u2026.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/IEPRZrF2TX\">https:\/\/t.co\/IEPRZrF2TX<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Kris Varsh (@isyoursoulsaved) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/isyoursoulsaved\/status\/2074535275145969861?\">July 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>DeSantis has since cemented the state into a conservative-majority haven for citizens <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/dem-governor-begs-rich-people-fled-new-york-florida-return-foot-bill-generous-social-programs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fleeing blue-state politicians<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Republican governor cruised to re-election in 2022.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; 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