Chris Nocco announced he will step down as Pasco County sheriff after 15 years to run for the Florida Senate seat held by retiring Senator Ed Hooper. Because he is leaving before his term ends, Governor Ron DeSantis will appoint his successor, with voters deciding in the 2028 election. Nocco, first appointed by Governor Rick Scott in 2011, highlighted his record of expanding the sheriff’s budget and his long‑standing political ties, including work for Marco Rubio and a Trump‑appointed Homeland Security Advisory Council seat. He said the Senate race offers a chance to address statewide issues while remaining committed to public safety. The district he will contest includes parts of northern Pinellas and southwest Pasco counties, and Nocco plans to stay in his sheriff role until the November midterm elections.
Pasco Sheriff Nocco Resigns to Pursue Florida Senate Seat
