The Florida Police Chiefs Association has thrown its weight behind U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, giving the appointed incumbent a statewide law enforcement endorsement as she heads into the 2026 election. The nod adds to a growing stack of sheriff and police union support that Moody’s team has collected across Florida, with association leaders framing the move as a stand for officer safety, stable funding and consistent backing for departments.
FPCA Formalizes Its Backing
In a press release from the Florida Police Chiefs Association, the group said it is “proudly endorsing Ashley Moody for the United States Senate” and described a relationship “built on years of mutual trust, shared values, and an unshakable commitment” to officer safety. The FPCA posted the announcement on July 10, 2026, and noted that it had previously backed Moody during her attorney general campaigns and after her 2025 appointment to the Senate.
What Chiefs Said
FPCA leaders pointed to Moody’s ties to policing and her record on funding, mental health resources and officer safety, according to local reporting. FPCA President David Currey said Moody’s perspective is shaped by being a law enforcement spouse, and Second Vice President John Barkley praised what he called her steadiness during “some of the most challenging years” for the profession. FPCA Executive Director Jennifer “Cookie” Pritt told the Tampa Free Press that the endorsement is about presence and consistency rather than partisan politics.
Moody’s Law Enforcement Coalition
The Moody campaign points to a long list of law enforcement backers, including 64 sheriffs and all 15 Republican state attorneys, as evidence of broad statewide support, according to the campaign’s Ashley Moody endorsements page. The campaign also lists the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police among its supporters. The Florida Police Benevolent Association announced its own endorsement in April, a union nod the campaign and state police groups have repeatedly highlighted.
Where This Leaves the Senate Race
Moody was appointed to the Senate by Gov. Ron DeSantis in January 2025 to fill the seat vacated by Marco Rubio, a move reported at the time by Axios. Local coverage reports the contest is already competitive, with WESH noting that Democrat Alex Vindman is a leading fundraiser and that other challengers have qualified to run. The FPCA endorsement gives Moody a visible law enforcement credential as she tries to convert institutional backing into votes and turnout.
Moody’s campaign called the FPCA endorsement “an honor” and said she will continue standing with the men and women who wear the badge, according to the statement quoted by the Tampa Free Press. With sheriffs, prosecutors and police unions publicly lined up, the endorsement reinforces the senator’s law and order message heading into the 2026 cycle.
