Chris Nocco rounds up support from statewide elected officials, law enforcement in SD 21 bid

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco has landed support from a trio of statewide elected officials and Police Benevolent Associations (PBA) representing the Tampa Bay area in his bid for Senate District 21.

The endorsers include U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, and the Sun Coast, West Central Florida and Tampa PBAs.

“Sheriff Chris Nocco is the leader we need in the Florida Senate. I know that he will always stand for law and order and fight to keep our communities safe,” Ingoglia said.

“He’ll be a strong voice for Florida’s families, taxpayers, and law enforcement officers. I’m proud to endorse him, and I look forward to continuing our work together to put a stop to illegal immigration, protect our state’s financial future, and keep Florida fearless.”

Moody praised Nocco for being “on the frontlines of making Florida the safest, freest state in the nation for nearly two decades.”

“His commitment to public safety is unmatched and I look forward to working together to keep Florida safe and expand opportunities for all Floridians,” Moody said.

Nocco is running to succeed Republican state Sen. Ed Hooper, who announced earlier this month he was retiring from politics two years before his term ends.

Simpson called Nocco a “proven leader who understands the critical role safe communities play in a stronger economy for our state and quality schools for our students.”

“As Sheriff, he has been a tremendous partner for Florida’s farmers in keeping our food supply safe and affordable. His leading role in one of the fastest growing areas of our state gives him a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead,” Simpson said.

The local PBAs, meanwhile, said they will use their collective strength to help Nocco get elected.

“We will ask that our collective thousands of law enforcement members, our families, and our friends cast their votes for you in your election,” the groups wrote in their endorsement letter.

The latest endorsements follow a flurry of support Nocco drew in the first few days of his campaign, including from U.S. Sen. Rick Scott; Gov. Ron DeSantis; Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier; and U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Laurel Lee and Anna Paulina Luna.

Nocco has also already rounded up support from some of his would-be colleagues in the Senate, including state Sens. Danny Burgess, Nick DiCeglie, Tom Leek and Debbie Mayfield.

Nocco is also running with support from members of the lower chamber, including state Reps. Adam Anderson and Brad Yeager.

Endorsements also rolled in from local officials, including Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri and Tax Collector Adam Ross; Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano and Pasco County Commissioner Lisa Yeager; and Sixth Judicial Court State Attorney Bruce Bartlett, whose jurisdiction spans both Pinellas and Pasco counties.

Nocco also earned support from former House Speaker Chris Sprowls.

Nocco entered the race already with key support from Senate President-designate Jim Boyd and state Sen. Jay Trumbull, who issued a joint endorsement just minutes after Hooper’s announcement.

Nocco’s challenge in succeeding Hooper comes not in a General Election — Republicans have a major voter registration advantage in the north Pinellas and southern Pasco district — but rather in a GOP Primary should anyone else enter the race.

Republicans account for nearly 45% of the district’s electorate, while Democrats account for just a quarter of voters. The rest are either political independents or are registered to a minor party. While SD 21 is a long way from the state’s most conservative district, it’s still ruby red.

Whether a credible challenger to Nocco emerges in the days and weeks to come is anyone’s guess. But in addition to his growing list of high-profile supporters, Nocco’s popularity, particularly in the Pasco portion of the district, does serve as a deterrent.

For starters, Nocco was re-elected to Pasco County Sheriff in 2024 without opposition. He was also unopposed in 2020 and 2016. He hasn’t faced a challenger since his first election in 2012, which he ran as the incumbent after being appointed to the seat in 2011 by then-Gov. Scott.

Nocco has appeared multiple times on Florida Politics’ list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians, most recently landing No. 22 in 2024. In 2023, he placed No. 15 and was No. 19 the year before that.

While Nocco has spent much of his career in law enforcement — including in Philadelphia, Fairfax County in Virginia, and in Broward County here in Florida — he also spent a few years as the Staff Director in the Office of Policy and Procedure for the Florida House, a position that will no doubt serve as an important bullet point on his political résumé.

Adding to Nocco’s appeal to voters in the conservative SD 21, the Pasco County Sheriff also served as a first responder during the 9/11 terrorist attacks and in Washington, D.C., for a sniper incident and anthrax attack.

One of Nocco’s most notable accomplishments since taking office relates to human trafficking. In 2023, Nocco oversaw the arrest of dozens of individuals accused of large-scale trafficking.

Nocco, at the time, detailed to the press how a 16-year-old runaway faced two weeks of sexual battery and sex work. The girl wound up working in adult businesses in both Pasco and Pinellas counties. The investigation and arrests led the Pasco County Commission to consider new adult business rules.