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Former Florida Gubernatorial Candidate Arrested on Drug Charges

Former Florida Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum was arrested in Alabama last week after police said a traffic stop led to the discovery of suspected drugs inside the vehicle he was driving. According to…

Andrew PowellJul 8, 20263 min read

Andrew Gillum Arrest Drugs Florida Politics U.S. News

Former Florida Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum was arrested in Alabama last week after police said a traffic stop led to the discovery of suspected Drugs inside the vehicle he was driving.

According to Fox News, Gillum, 46, was taken into custody Thursday in Daphne after officers stopped him for allegedly driving erratically, the Daphne Police Department announced.

Police said officers observed a glass pipe on the vehicle's center console, prompting a search of the car.

According to investigators, officers recovered several rolled marijuana cigarettes along with three packages containing a substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine.

Gillum was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana.

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Authorities booked him into the Daphne City Jail before transferring him to the Baldwin County Correctional Facility. Jail records show he was released later the same day.

If convicted of the marijuana charge, Gillum could face up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $6,000.

Gillum rose to national prominence during Florida's 2018 governor's race, when he narrowly lost to President Donald Trump ally Ron DeSantis by about 34,000 votes, a margin of roughly 0.4%.

At the time, Gillum was serving as mayor of Tallahassee and was widely viewed as an emerging figure within the Democratic Party.

Since leaving elected office, Gillum has co-hosted the podcast "Native Land" alongside Angela Rye and Bakari Sellers. He also previously worked as a political commentator for CNN.

The latest Arrest follows several high-profile personal and legal challenges in recent years.

In 2020, Gillum was found intoxicated in a Miami Beach hotel room where another individual had apparently overdosed on Drugs. No criminal charges were filed in that incident.

Later that year, Gillum announced he was entering a rehabilitation facility for alcohol abuse and depression.

"After conversation with my family and deep reflection, I have made the decision to seek help, guidance, and enter a rehabilitation facility at this time," he said in a statement. "This has been a wake-up call for me. Since my race for governor ended, I fell into a depression that has led to alcohol abuse."

Gillum also faced a federal corruption case in 2022 involving allegations that campaign funds were misused.

He was acquitted of making false statements to the FBI, and prosecutors later dropped the remaining charges after a mistrial was declared.

The Alabama drug possession case remains pending.

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