Hillsborough State Attorney Will Not Seek Re-Election Amid Suspension

TAMPA — Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren announced Monday that he will not seek re-election after a federal judge ruled more than a year ago that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis illegally ousted him.

"DeSantis broke our democracy, and it’s too fragile & too important to let him do it again. So I'll take one for the team and not run for re-election as I keep fighting the illegal suspension (as a court ruled) to serve out my term on behalf of the community that elected me," Warren said on X, formerly Twitter.

Warren said Monday in a video announcement posted to X that DeSantis would be able to once again suspend him should he choose to run for office a third time.

"I care about the state attorney's office and this community too much to have that cloud of uncertainty hanging over us, so I've decided not to run for a position that I've won twice and would win again," Warren said.

RELATED: Andrew Warren Asks Gov. DeSantis To Reinstate Him As State Attorney

In January 2023, federal judge Robert Hinkle ruled that DeSantis violated the Florida Constitution and First Amendment when he suspended twice-elected Warren from office.

In his ruling, Hinkle said he did not have the authority to reinstate Warren but called on DeSantis to follow the law.

RELATED: Ousted Hillsborough State Attorney Takes Case To FL Supreme Court

With no prior notice to Warren, DeSantis summarily removed the Democratic state attorney for Hillsborough from office on Aug. 4, 2022 "due to neglect of duty, incompetence and willful defiance of his duties as early as June 2021 when he signed a joint statement with other elected prosecutors in support of gender-transition treatments for children and bathroom usage based on gender identity."

Although no law had been passed making gender-transition treatments for children illegal, DeSantis maintained that Warren had failed to perform his lawful duties in stating he opposed banning gender-transition treatments, an issue that DeSantis favored.

RELATED: Ousted Hillsborough State Attorney Files To Open Campaign Account

DeSantis also said Warren neglected his duties when he joined other state attorneys in signing a pledge not to prosecute doctors and women who violated the state’s 15-week ban.

Following Warren's suspension, DeSantis appointed Susan Lopez as state attorney.