Andrew Gillum Looks to Move Forward as Reported Negative Drug Test Emerges Following Alabama Arrest

DAPHNE, Ala. — Former Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum was arrested in Alabama on July 2, 2026, following a traffic stop by the Daphne Police Department. While reports citing court documents obtained by TMZ indicate that Gillum volunteered for a drug testing program and subsequently returned negative results, these specific findings have not yet been formally verified by the court or the district attorney's office in public filings.

The arrest occurred at approximately 10:45 p.m. on U.S. Highway 98 after officers observed the vehicle being driven erratically near North Main Street. According to a press release from the Daphne Police Department, an officer spotted a glass pipe on the center console, which provided the probable cause required to search the interior of the automobile.

Three packages totaling approximately three grams of a substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine were discovered by investigators during the search. Authorities additionally recovered several rolled marijuana cigarettes and various items of drug paraphernalia, including a bong, additional pipes, and cut straws, from the passenger cabin.

Gillum currently faces three criminal charges: felony possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana. Baldwin County jail records confirm he was processed on July 3 and subsequently released on a combined bond of $6,500.

This arrest represents the latest in a series of public legal encounters for the 46-year-old former politician, who served as Tallahassee's mayor from 2014 to 2018 and was the 2018 Democratic nominee for Florida governor. His career has faced public scrutiny following his departure from municipal leadership, a period marked by multiple legal incidents, including a high-profile 2020 encounter in Miami Beach and federal corruption charges in 2022 that ultimately resulted in no convictions.

Alabama state law grants prosecutors in Baldwin County discretion regarding how they handle these specific narcotics violations. Felony possession of methamphetamine carries a potential prison term of up to five years under state statutes, a penalty that the district attorney will consider as the case moves forward through the judicial system.