Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood teases political announcement: What's he running for in '24?
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood is running for reelection next year.
The two-term sheriff who's made national headlines in recent months for his ongoing fight with white supremacists and hate groups teased a big announcement next week in a tweet Friday.
"Let's make it official. Got an announcement coming next week," Chitwood wrote beneath an image of his face and the year "2024." The tweet included an emoji representing a United States flag, a star, and a police revolving light.
Paperwork filed with the Volusia County Supervisor of Elections Office on Friday morning confirms that he is seeking a third term as sheriff.
As of late Friday, no one else had put in paperwork to run for Volusia County sheriff.
It was Chitwood's tweet that showed his popularity among voters and the aversion of some on the right-wing fringes.
"Chitwood for President!" read one comment. Another: "Please tell me he's running for governor lol."
On the other hand, a "white civil rights advocate" tweeted: "Finally coming out of the closet?" A handful of other trolls posted even more offensive content.
Chitwood's populist approach to policing earned him a loyal following as Daytona Beach police chief for 10 years before winning the sheriff's job in a crowded field in 2016, when longtime Sheriff Ben Johnson was retiring.
Chitwood won outright in the August primary that year with more than double the number of votes of his closest competitor. He was unopposed in 2020.
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This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Worst kept secret: Sheriff Mike Chitwood running for re-election
