Andrew Gillum arrested: Former Florida governor candidate faces drug charges in Alabama

Andrew Gillum, the former Tallahassee mayor who narrowly lost Florida's 2018 governor race, has been arrested on drug charges.

Updated on: Jul 7, 2026, 23:00:37 IST

By Khushi Arora

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Andrew Gillum, the former mayor of Tallahassee has been arrested on drug charges in Alabama. He was taken into custody by the Daphne Police Department on charges of possession of dangerous drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana, according to Baldwin County Sheriff's Office records.

Andrew Gillum arrested for drug charges. (Baldwin Co Sheriffs Office)

He was booked into the Baldwin County jail on the night of July 2 in Daphne, a small town near Mobile, as per TMZ. He was released from custody the next day, online records show.

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Who is Andrew Gillium

Gillum was elected to the Tallahassee City Commission in 2003 and became mayor in 2014, serving one term.

In 2018, he pulled off an upset win in the Democratic primary for Florida governor. He then lost the general election to Ron DeSantis, a former congressman at the time, by a slim margin of about 30,000 votes.

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Gillum's previous drug-related controversy

Gillum has faced drug-related controversy before. In 2020, he was found passed out in a Miami hotel room with another man who was believed to have suffered a drug overdose, according to USA Today.

As per TMZ, paramedics found the two men dazed and confused at the Mondrian Hotel in South Beach after another man called 911 because he feared someone had overdosed. Police body camera footage showed several prescription pill bottles in the room, and officers also found three small bags of suspected crystal methamphetamine.

However, Gillum denied using drugs and no charges were filed. Prosecutors did not charge Gillum or the other man because there was not enough evidence connecting them to the drugs, which were not found on either of them.

After the incident, Gillum publicly apologized and entered rehab for alcohol abuse but his political career never recovered.

In 2022, Gillum and a close adviser were arrested in a public corruption investigation that had earlier led to the convictions of former Tallahassee mayor Scott Maddox and two others. The charges against Gillum were dropped in 2023 after his trial ended with a hung jury.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Khushi Arora
Khushi Arora is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times, where she writes for the US Desk, covering everything happening in the United States, while maintaining quality and delivering impactful stories across all beats. She previously worked at Zee News for over a year where she explored multiple beats including News Desk, Education and Lifestyle. With a background in English Literature, Khushi blends sharp research with thoughtful storytelling, shaping stories that go beyond headlines and bring clarity and credibility to every piece she writes. Beyond the newsroom, she enjoys reading, watching cinema and loves having long conversations about books, films and everything in between.Read More

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