A former Florida gubernatorial candidate was arrested in Baldwin County on drug charges.
Andrew Gillum, the Democratic nominee who lost to Republican Ron DeSantis in 2018, is charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana.
The Daphne Police Department arrested the 46-year-old on July 2 at 10:45 p.m.
Daphne Police chief Brian Gulsby told 1819 News that Gillum was taken into custody during a traffic stop on U.S. 98 near North Main Street. An officer conducted a traffic stop for erratic driving. According to a police report, the officer saw a glass pipe on the center console, leading to a probable cause search. Several rolled marijuana cigarettes and three packages of suspected methamphetamine were recovered.
Gillum was booked into the Daphne City Jail and later transferred to the Baldwin County Corrections Center the next day. He has since bonded out of jail.
This was not the first time Gillum had been connected to an alleged drug incident. He was reportedly found inebriated in a Miami Beach hotel in 2020, with two other men. Although bags of suspected crystal methamphetamine were recovered from the hotel room, no arrests were made. He later admitted he was drinking but denied taking the drugs.
This was also not Gillum’s first brush with the law. He was acquitted in 2023 in a federal corruption case in which he was accused of using campaign funds for personal use.
Gillum, who was the mayor of Tallahassee, Fla., nearly tied with DeSantis in the 2018 gubernatorial race. DeSantis had 49.59% of the vote to Gillum’s 49.19%.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every day or become a member to gain access to exclusive content.
