Andrew Gillum came within just 32,463 votes of becoming Florida’s governor in 2018. Today, the former Democratic nominee is once again making headlines, this time after being arrested in Alabama on multiple drug-related charges.
Gillum, 46, was taken into custody last week in Daphne, Alabama, according to jail records first highlighted by TMZ. He was booked into the Baldwin County jail on charges including possession of dangerous drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana.
Authorities have not yet released detailed information about the circumstances that led to the arrest.
According to Florida Politics and other outlets, Gillum was arrested in Baldwin County, which borders Florida’s Panhandle. He was later released after posting a $6,500 bond.
If convicted, the charges could carry significant penalties under Alabama law.
Ex-Florida Democratic Governor Nominee Andrew Gillum Arrested For Drug Possession https://t.co/XrZneyynHf
— TMZ (@TMZ) July 7, 2026
Florida Politics reported that the felony dangerous drugs charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of as much as $7,500. The misdemeanor charges could result in additional jail time and fines if Gillum is ultimately found guilty.
The case adds to a series of personal and legal challenges that have followed Gillum since his narrow loss to Republican Ron DeSantis in one of the closest gubernatorial races in modern Florida history.
In November 2018, Gillum lost the governor’s race by less than half of one percentage point after more than eight million ballots were cast statewide. At the time, many Democrats viewed the former Tallahassee mayor as one of the party’s rising national figures, while DeSantis began what would become one of the country’s most prominent gubernatorial tenures.
Gillum’s public image changed dramatically over the following years.
In 2020, Miami Beach police responded to a hotel after receiving a report of a possible drug overdose involving another individual. Officers found Gillum inside the room, where, according to The Miami Herald, methamphetamine was also recovered. No criminal charges were filed in connection with that incident because, according to police, the drugs were not found on Gillum or the other man.
The other individual was later publicly identified as a male escort.
Ron DeSantis winning the 2018 FL gubernatorial race was possibly the most consequential victory in American history.
Andrew Gillum was just arrested for drug possession.
A tale of two fates.
Thank God we got @RonDeSantis. https://t.co/Kl8SxhRS1L
— Cryptid Politics (@CryptidPolitics) July 7, 2026
Following the incident, Gillum announced he was entering treatment for alcohol abuse and depression, describing the episode as a turning point in his life.
He later faced separate federal charges related to campaign fundraising and financial dealings. Gillum was acquitted on one count of making false statements to the FBI, while the remaining charges ended in a mistrial and were later dismissed.
Despite those legal battles, Gillum gradually returned to public life, including political commentary and podcasting. His latest arrest, however, has once again placed his legal situation under public scrutiny.
The Alabama charges remain pending, and Gillum is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Prosecutors have not yet outlined the evidence they intend to present, and further details about the arrest are expected as the case moves through the judicial process.
