Andrew Gillum, the former Tallahassee mayor and Democratic rising star who came within striking distance of becoming Florida’s first Black governor, was arrested in Alabama after police said a traffic stop uncovered methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia in his vehicle.
Gillum, 46, was pulled over by the Daphne Police Department on U.S. Highway 98 around 10:45 p.m. after officers reported he was driving erratically. Police said they began a probable cause search after spotting a glass pipe on the center console. Officers recovered several rolled marijuana cigarettes and three packages containing a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine.
Gillum was booked into the Daphne City Jail before being transferred to the Baldwin County Correctional Facility. Jail records show he was released the following day.
He faces charges of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana possession. If convicted on the marijuana charge alone, he could face up to one year in jail and a $6,000 fine. Police records have not detailed the classifications or potential penalties for the methamphetamine and paraphernalia charges.
As of the latest reporting, Gillum had not publicly commented on the arrest and no attorney had spoken on his behalf.
From rising Democratic star to repeated legal trouble
Gillum’s arrest marks the latest setback in a career once seen as one of the Democratic Party’s brightest.
He served as Tallahassee mayor from 2014 to 2018 and came within less than one percentage point of defeating Ron DeSantis in the 2018 Florida governor’s race, earning support from former President Barack Obama and national Democrats. He ultimately lost by roughly 32,000 votes out of more than 8 million cast.
His public struggles began in March 2020 when Miami Beach police responding to a medical emergency found Gillum in a hotel room with a man who had apparently overdosed. Officers recovered suspected crystal methamphetamine, empty beer bottles and prescription bottles. No charges were filed because investigators could not link the drugs to any individual.
Gillum denied using methamphetamine, saying he had been drinking heavily after attending a wedding. He later described the incident as a turning point, saying he had struggled with depression and alcohol abuse following his 2018 election loss and citing his father’s alcoholism as part of what led him to seek treatment.
Gillum entered a rehabilitation facility and later that year publicly came out as bisexual during a televised interview alongside his wife, R. Jai Gillum. The couple share three children.
A public comeback
In 2022, federal prosecutors charged Gillum with wire fraud, conspiracy and making false statements to the FBI in connection with an investigation into alleged campaign finance misconduct involving other former Tallahassee officials.
A jury in 2023 acquitted him of lying to federal agents but deadlocked on the remaining charges, ending the case without a conviction.
After the trial, Gillum rebuilt his public profile outside elected office. He became a co-host of Native Land Pod with Angela Rye and Bakari Sellers. The podcast won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding News and Information Podcast in 2025 and Gillum continued appearing as a political commentator on cable news.
The Alabama case is unrelated to his federal prosecution and will proceed separately in Baldwin County. As of the latest reporting, court records had not listed an arraignment date or other upcoming proceedings.
