{"id":61571,"date":"2026-01-23T19:33:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T00:33:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=61571"},"modified":"2026-01-24T21:09:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T02:09:44","slug":"floridas-best-choice-grady-judd-endorses-byron-donalds-for-governor-but-did-judd-know-about-donalds-arrests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2026\/01\/23\/floridas-best-choice-grady-judd-endorses-byron-donalds-for-governor-but-did-judd-know-about-donalds-arrests\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Florida\u2019s best choice\u2019: Grady Judd endorses Byron Donalds for Governor, but did Judd know about Donalds arrests"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd has just endorsed Byron Donalds for Governor, touting the sitting Congressman\u2019s public safety bona fides and support for tough-on-crime policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The endorsement adds to Donalds\u2019 growing roster of supporters as he courts GOP Primary voters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Judd, who has served as Sheriff for more than 20 straight years, said he\u2019s \u201cenergetically\u201d backing Donalds because of his steadfast allegiance to law enforcement and stronger sentencing policies, including \u201ctruth in sentencing<\/a>,\u201d mandatory minimums, and opposition to early parole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe boldly supports law enforcement and holding criminals accountable. He steadfastly believes that the public\u2019s safety comes first,\u201d Judd said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cByron totally understands that keeping citizens and visitors safe must be the government\u2019s top priority. He is Florida\u2019s best choice for Governor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Donalds called Judd \u201ca nationally respected Sheriff\u201d and framed the endorsement as validation of his pitch to be the race\u2019s \u201claw-and-order candidate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSheriff Judd knows I am \u2026 committed to backing the blue, enforcing the law, and keeping Florida families safe,\u201d he said. \u201cAs Governor, there will be no confusion about where I stand: those who break the law will be behind bars, and public safety will always come first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Donalds own youthful indiscretions, which include an arrest at 18 for marijuana distribution and a felony theft conviction at age 20.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cWhen I made my mistakes, there was no leniency for youthful offenders,\u201d Donalds, said in an interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Donalds\u2019 criminal record suggests he received more leniency than he\u2019s letting on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After his marijuana arrest in 1997, a Florida court granted Donalds a \u201cpre-trial diversion,\u201d which offered some offenders alternatives to jail. Law enforcement arrested Donalds on a charge of distributing weed, not just possessing it, although Donalds maintains he wasn\u2019t distributing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For his drug charge, the court ultimately fined Donalds $150 and did not incarcerate him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPre-trial diversion? Let\u2019s be very clear \u2014 the issues in Washington, D.C., is not a 20-year-old with a dime bag of marijuana,\u201d Donalds told NOTUS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2000, Donalds pleaded no contest<\/a> to a felony larceny charge. He was sentenced to two years of probation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polk County Sheriff Grady must be soft on Donalds arrests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Another Florida Sheriff endorses U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds for Florida governor<\/a><\/blockquote>