Andrew Gillum arrested in Alabama on drug charges after traffic stop
Andrew Gillum, the former Tallahassee mayor and 2018 Florida Democratic gubernatorial nominee, was arrested in Daphne, Alabama, on July 2, 2026, after police say a traffic stop turned up meth, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia in his vehicle. The onetime rising political star now faces felony and misdemeanor drug charges in Baldwin County.
Key Takeaways
- Daphne police stopped Gillum on U.S. Highway 98 around 10:45 p.m. after officers reported erratic driving.
- Officers found about 3 grams of meth, marijuana products, and drug paraphernalia during a vehicle search, police said.
- Jail records list charges including possession of dangerous drugs, drug paraphernalia, and second-offense marijuana possession.
- Gillum was booked into the Baldwin County jail and released on July 3, according to online records.
- The arrest marks the latest legal setback for a politician who narrowly lost Florida's 2018 governor's race to Ron DeSantis.
What happened during Andrew Gillum's arrest in Daphne?
According to the Daphne Police Department, patrol officers conducted a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 98 near North Main Street at about 10:45 p.m. on July 2. Police said the driver was identified as 46-year-old Andrew Gillum of Tallahassee, Florida.
During the stop, an officer spotted a glass pipe on the vehicle's center console, authorities said. That observation led to a probable cause search of the car.
Investigators recovered three packages of a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine, totaling about 3 grams, along with several rolled marijuana cigarettes, additional marijuana products, and drug paraphernalia including a bong, pipes, and cut straws, according to FOX 13 Tampa Bay.
The Baldwin County Sheriff's Office jail roster shows Gillum was taken into custody at 10:44 p.m. and released the following day, WCTV reported.
What charges is Andrew Gillum facing in Alabama?
Booking records list charges of possession of dangerous drugs, drug paraphernalia (first offense), and possession of marijuana (second offense), according to WCTV's review of the Baldwin County jail roster.
WEAR-TV reported Gillum was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class D felony, and possession of marijuana in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor.
Police booked him into the Daphne City Jail before transporting him to the Baldwin County Correctional Facility, WEAR-TV said. WCTV reported he was released from custody on July 3.
How does this connect to Gillum's earlier Miami Beach incident?
The Alabama arrest arrives years after Gillum drew national attention during a March 2020 incident at Miami Beach's Mondrian South Beach hotel. Police and paramedics responded after reports that a man had possibly overdosed, finding Gillum and another man inside the room.
Body camera footage later showed prescription pill bottles and small bags containing suspected methamphetamine in the room. Prosecutors ultimately decided not to file criminal charges against Gillum or the other man, citing insufficient evidence to directly link either individual to the drugs, FOX 13 reported.
Gillum later entered rehab and spoke publicly about depression and alcohol abuse following his 2018 election loss.
Who is Andrew Gillum and why does this arrest matter?
Gillum served as mayor of Tallahassee from 2014 to 2018 before winning the Democratic nomination for Florida governor that year. He narrowly lost the general election to Ron DeSantis, collecting 49.2% of the vote compared to DeSantis's 49.6%, WCTV reported.
In 2022, Gillum was indicted on federal charges tied to campaign contribution fraud during his governor's race. A jury acquitted him in 2023 of lying to the FBI, and the remaining charges against him were ultimately dropped, according to WCTV.
For readers tracking Florida political figures who have landed in bizarre headlines, this case fits a familiar pattern covered in our Bizarre News & Florida Man section — a former statewide candidate now facing fresh drug charges far from home.