Andrew Gillum, a prominent Democratic figure once endorsed by former President Barack Obama, was arrested in Daphne, Alabama, on July 2, facing charges related to unlawful possession of a controlled substance and marijuana possession. Gillum, 46, was pulled over for erratic driving around 10:45 p.m. on U.S. Highway 98.
During the traffic stop, an officer observed a glass pipe on the center console, which led to a search of the vehicle. According to a police report, officers discovered three grams of methamphetamine, eight pre-rolled marijuana joints, four cut straws, three pipes, and a bong. Gillum was charged with one felony count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor count of second-degree marijuana possession. He was booked into the Daphne City Jail and subsequently transferred to the Baldwin County Correctional Facility before being released.
Gillum, who previously served as Tallahassee's mayor, gained national attention during his 2018 campaign for Florida governor, where he narrowly lost to Ron DeSantis by approximately 32,000 votes. His political career has faced significant challenges.
In March 2020, Miami Beach police responded to a hotel where Gillum was found inebriated with two other individuals, one of whom appeared to be experiencing an overdose. Officers found three small bags of suspected crystal meth in the room, but no charges were filed as the drugs could not be directly linked to anyone present. Gillum stated at the time that he had been drinking and denied using methamphetamine. He subsequently entered a rehabilitation program and later publicly identified as bisexual.
In 2023, Gillum was acquitted by a federal jury on charges of lying to the FBI as part of a corruption case involving alleged misuse of campaign funds.
More recently, Gillum has been involved in podcasting. In 2024, iHeartMedia announced his participation in the podcast "Native Land Pod" alongside former hosts Angela Rye and Tiffany Cross. Gillum currently co-hosts the show, which focuses on liberal and progressive topics, with Rye and commentator Bakari Sellers. He appeared on an episode as recently as the week before his arrest.
Gillum has not yet entered a plea to the charges filed in Alabama.