Just a few hours after Sen. Ed Hooper announced he was retiring from politics two years before his term ends, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco announced he would run to succeed him in Senate District 21.

Sources had already told Florida Politics that Nocco would run, but he has now made it official.

“As Sheriff for the last 15 years, I have worked to keep our community safe and build strong partnerships across every part of our region. I’ve witnessed firsthand just how impactful decisions made in Tallahassee can be for the safety, security and prosperity of our state,” Nocco said.

“As a conservative Republican, I’m ready to fight for family-focused, Florida-first ideas that help create and support new businesses, protect the natural resources that drive our economy, and strengthen our place as the most law enforcement-friendly state in the Union.”

Hooper, current Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered his resignation to Senate leadership Wednesday afternoon. But the effective date is Nov. 3, the same day as the 2026 General Election.

The timing is intentional. By announcing his retirement before the effective date and before the state’s qualifying period for legislative races, it allows Gov. Ron DeSantis to schedule a Special Election to run concurrently with this year’s Primary and General Elections.

Nocco praised existing legislative leadership, and past leaders, in his campaign announcement.

“As we shift our focus to the campaign ahead, I want to take the experiences I have gained from being boots on the ground and take them to the state Capitol to serve and fight for the people of Pasco County and North Pinellas,” Nocco said.

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

“Chris Nocco is a leader built for the fights ahead. His proven ability to problem solve and seek justice has made him an integral voice as Florida combatted the national movement to defund police and efforts to weaken law enforcement’s capabilities,” the statement read, adding that Nocco has already been “a tremendous partner for the Florida Legislature.”

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 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. Rick 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.

Nocco has friends in high places to help him continue his winning streak, including former House Speaker and now-New College of Florida President Richard Corcoran, as well as Will Weatherford, also a former House Speaker who remains one of the most well-connected figures behind the scenes in Florida politics.

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.

Nocco also has a penchant for community service. He, with Pasco County Tax Collector and fellow beloved leader Mike Fasano, frequently hosts food drives during the holiday season to ensure families have a proper meal.

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.

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