2022 Sheriff of the Year Joins Sheriffs Gualtieri and Coats in supporting Hayslett in Republican Primary

Clearwater, FL – Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced his endorsement of Kevin Hayslett in the race for Florida’s 13th congressional district. Judd, one of the most famous Sheriffs in the country, is the third local Sheriff to back Hayslett who has firmly established himself as law enforcements’ choice for Congress.

Judd was first elected as Sheriff of Polk County in 2004 and was just elected to a record-breaking 5th term. This year, Sheriff Judd was named the “Sandra S. Hutchens Sheriff of the Year” at the Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA) 2022 Winter Conference, which is made up of 113 largest sheriff’s offices in the country.

Judd joins Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri and former Sheriff Jim Coats in backing former prosecutor Kevin Hayslett. Since announcing his campaign in January, Hayslett has quickly earned a long list of local endorsements, even prompting local leaders to switch their support from other candidates in the race. This major endorsement comes on the heels of Hayslett raising more than all his Republican opponents combined in the first quarter of 2022.

“Kevin Hayslett has earned the backing of the law enforcement community because he is a candidate we can trust to be tough on crime and back the blue at this critical time in our country. Florida needs strong leaders who will fight for us in Congress and I’m proud to stand with Kevin Hayslett because he’ll stand with all law enforcement,” stated Sheriff Grady Judd. 

“I am incredibly proud to have the support of Sheriff Judd. He is one of the strongest, most accomplished leaders in Florida and I’m humbled to earn his trust. I am running because we need a leader who knows how to stand up to Biden and Pelosi, and who will always support law enforcement as radical leftists try to defund the police. I’m excited to work with leaders like Sheriff Judd to protect our community and put an end to weak leadership threatening our nation,” said Kevin Hayslett.