Former Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum was arrested on July 2, 2026, in Daphne, Alabama, on charges of possessing dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia, according to the Daphne Police Department. Officers conducted a traffic stop for erratic driving, which led to the discovery of methamphetamine and marijuana inside the vehicle.
Traffic Stop and Drug Charges in Daphne
The arrest occurred at approximately 10:45 p.m. on July 2, 2026, when patrol officers pulled over a vehicle on U.S. Highway 98 near North Main Street. Officers initiated the stop after observing the vehicle being driven erratically. The driver was identified as 46-year-old Andrew Gillum, a former Tallahassee mayor and the 2018 Democratic nominee for Florida governor.
During the encounter, an officer spotted a glass pipe on the center console, which provided probable cause for a search of the vehicle. Investigators recovered several rolled marijuana cigarettes, additional marijuana products, and three packages of a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. Further items seized included a bong, additional glass pipes, and cut straws.
According to the Daphne Police Department, several rolled marijuana cigarettes and three packages of a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine were recovered.
Gillum was booked into the Daphne City Jail and later transferred to the Baldwin County Correctional Facility. He faced three specific charges: possession of dangerous drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana. Jail records indicate he was released from custody on July 3.
Legal History and Public Controversies
This incident is the latest in a series of legal and personal challenges involving the former politician since his narrow loss to Ron DeSantis in the 2018 gubernatorial election. In March 2020, Gillum was involved in a high-profile incident at a Miami Beach hotel. Police responded to a report of a suspected overdose in a hotel room where Gillum was found with two other men. While officers found small baggies of suspected crystal methamphetamine at the scene, no criminal charges were filed against Gillum in connection with that event.
Following the 2020 incident, Gillum publicly announced he was entering a rehabilitation facility for alcohol abuse. His legal troubles continued in 2022, when he was indicted on federal charges including wire fraud and conspiracy related to his 2018 campaign finances. In 2023, a federal jury acquitted him on a charge of lying to the FBI, and the remaining 18 counts were subsequently dismissed by prosecutors.
Political Career and Recent Context
Gillum’s political rise began in 2003 when he was elected to the Tallahassee City Commission. He served as the mayor of Tallahassee from 2014 to 2018. During his 2018 campaign for governor, he gained national attention as the first Black major-party nominee for the position in Florida history. He lost the general election to Ron DeSantis by less than 34,000 votes, a margin that triggered an automatic recount.
Since leaving office, Gillum’s trajectory has been marked by a transition from electoral politics to media and commentary. USA Today noted that he co-hosted the podcast “Native Land Pod,” which received an NAACP Image Award in 2025.
As of Tuesday, July 7, 2026, Gillum has not released a public statement regarding the charges filed in Alabama.
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