Former Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren received a series of new endorsements from various current and former legislators and other elected officials, bolstering his campaign as he seeks a third term after being suspended by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022.

Former Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren’s campaign on Wednesday received a series of new endorsements from current and former legislators, alongside other elected officials.

Endorsements include former Florida Commissioner of Education and State Senator Betty Castor, former State Senator and Hillsborough Clerk of Courts Pat Frank, former State Senator and Hillsborough County Commissioner Les Miller, former State Attorney and Judge of the Second District Court of Appeal E.J. Salcines, and former State Attorney and State Senator Rod Smith.

Current Florida House Representatives Dianne Hart and Susan Valdes, and former State Representatives Ben Diamond, Adam Hattersley, Ed Narain, and Sean Shaw also backed Warren.

“I’m incredibly honored to have the support of so many distinguished public servants,” said Warren. “They know I’ll reverse the alarming increase in crime over the past two years and make Hillsborough safer—just as I did before.”

The endorsements follow Warren’s campaign raising more than $210,000 in its first 45 days. Last month, Warren received endorsements from House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, Congresswoman Kathy Castor, and other regional political figures including Alex Sink and Betty Castor.

First elected in 2016, Warren is seeking a third term after he was suspended and removed from office by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022. DeSantis accused Warren of incompetence and dereliction of duty following his dismissal from office by Executive Order. Notably, the governor claimed that Warren pledged not to enforce the state’s recently passed abortion law, as well as signed letters stating that he would not enforce laws prohibiting sex changes for minors. The suspension has been highly politicized and seen as a flagship moment of action for DeSantis, who directly referenced his removal of Warren during a Republican primary debate.

During a press conference on Wednesday morning, DeSantis suggested that he would wield his newly-formed ‘Florida Freedom Fund political action committee to target the Hillsborough County State Attorney race.