Nocco wins Senate seat, leaving Pasco Sheriff's Office in interim hands

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco won the special election for Florida Senate District 21 on Tuesday, ending his 15-year tenure as the county’s top law enforcement officer. Unofficial results showed Nocco, a Republican, capturing 57.66% of the vote compared to 42.34% for Democrat Jordan Hensley. These figures reflect reporting from 310 of 332 precincts in Pasco and Pinellas counties.

Nocco’s victory secures a seat in Tallahassee that became vacant when incumbent Ed Hooper announced his departure from the Legislature. The district encompasses portions of southwest Pasco County, including Port Richey and New Port Richey, as well as northern Pinellas County extending south to Clearwater. Nocco will serve out the remainder of Hooper’s term and will face the electorate again in 2028.

The sheriff’s departure triggers an immediate leadership change at the Sheriff’s Office. Jeff Harrington, who served as Nocco’s chief of staff, was appointed interim sheriff by the chief judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit. This appointment took effect Tuesday and will remain in place until Governor Ron DeSantis selects a permanent replacement.

Nocco, who was appointed sheriff by former Governor Rick Scott in 2011, previously held law enforcement roles in Philadelphia, Virginia, and Broward County. He also served as staff director in the Florida House and as chief of staff for the Florida Highway Patrol. During the campaign, he stated his goal was to apply his law enforcement background to legislative issues beyond public safety, specifically targeting affordability, mental health, and government permitting.

In remarks following his win, Nocco identified affordability as the primary concern raised by voters. He highlighted the permitting process as a particular frustration for residents attempting to repair or rebuild homes after hurricanes. He celebrated his victory Tuesday night at Ozona Blue in Palm Harbor alongside family, colleagues from the Sheriff’s Office, and state Representatives Adam Anderson and Brad Yeager.

Hensley, a bartender and political newcomer from Port Richey, ran his first campaign for public office. He has worked in the restaurant and hospitality industry for 13 years and focused his message on housing costs, wages, and public schools. He aimed to provide a different voice for working-class voters in a district with a strong Republican leaning.

In a post-election statement, Hensley noted that Nocco outspent him by a ratio of approximately 30 to 1. Hensley described his effort as respectable but expressed disappointment in the outcome. He said he hopes the newly elected officials represent their constituents fully, while leaving open the possibility of running again in two years.

The election night results also confirmed re-election for two local state House members. Representative Adam Anderson, a financial planner from Palm Harbor, won another term for House District 57. Representative Brad Yeager, an automotive industry manager and small-business owner from New Port Richey, won re-election for House District 56.