Chris Nocco seeks Senate District 21 seat in Nov. 3 election

Christopher M. Nocco, the longtime Pasco County sheriff, is running as a Republican for Florida State Senate District 21. The district covers parts of Pinellas and Pasco counties, including Clearwater.

Nocco announced he will resign as Pasco County sheriff in November 2026 to run for the seat, according to WTSP. He is seeking the rest of the unexpired term left by retiring Sen. Ed Hooper. Nocco is certified for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election ballot and faces Democrat Jordan Hensley.

On his campaign website, Nocco described himself as "a conservative Republican" 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."

Candidate information

Party: Republican
Race: Florida State Senate District 21 (unexpired term)
Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
Birthplace: Philadelphia
Education: Bachelor's degree in criminal justice and master's degree in public administration from the University of Delaware, where he attended on a football scholarship. He also holds an undergraduate certificate in emergency management from Florida State University, a certificate in business excellence from Vanderbilt University, and an honorary doctorate from the University of St. Leo. He is a graduate of the FBI National Executive Institute, the Naval Postgraduate School's executive leadership program, and the National Sheriffs' Institute.

Experience and public service

Nocco has served as Pasco County sheriff since 2011, according to BallotReady. Under his leadership, the Pasco Sheriff's Office became the first agency in the Tampa Bay area to adopt body-worn cameras, according to the sheriff's office biography.

Before becoming sheriff, Nocco served at the Philadelphia Public School Police, the Fairfax County, Virginia, police department, the Broward County Sheriff's Office and the Pasco Sheriff's Office, where he rose to captain and major.

While at the Fairfax County police department, Nocco was one of the first responders to the attacks of 9/11, the Washington sniper incident and the anthrax attacks, according to the Florida Constitution Revision Commission.

In state government, Nocco served as deputy chief of staff for then-state Rep. Marco Rubio in the Florida House of Representatives. He also served as chief of staff at the Florida Highway Patrol.

Nocco was appointed to the Florida Constitution Revision Commission in 2017. He has served on the Homeland Security Advisory Council, according to his campaign website, and on the Criminal Punishment Code Task Force, according to the Florida Sheriffs Association.

Endorsements

Nocco has received endorsements from elected officials, law enforcement groups and business organizations. According to Florida Politics' Sunburn column: