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Jon Kinney
A former sheriff candidate who temporarily was named the victor is seeking to replace the person who eventually won by fewer than 20 votes.
Earlier this week, Republican Jon Kinney filed his intent to compete in the 2024 sheriff’s race, according to the Supervisor of Elections Office.
As of Thursday evening, only Kinney and no party affiliation candidate Edison Edison have filed to run for sheriff. Elections records show Sheriff Gator DeLoach, who was first elected in 2016 and was reelected four years later, has yet to file his intent to seek reelection.
In 2016, Kinney faced off against DeLoach, who was a Democrat at the time but later switched parties to become a Republican, for sheriff. After the polls closed, unofficial results showed Kinney had won by 18 votes.
Additional uncounted ballots were found a day later, and after they were counted, DeLoach won the election by 16 votes. Kinney went on to sue the Putnam County Canvassing Board, which certified the election results, in hopes of reversing the outcome.
A judge later ruled in the Canvassing Board’s favor, and an appeals court upheld the decision.
If no other Republican candidate runs for sheriff in the 2024 election cycle, Kinney’s name will automatically be placed on the Nov. 5, 2024, general election ballot. If other Republicans qualify to run for sheriff, all Republican hopefuls will compete in the 2024 primary to determine who will compete in the general election.
For more election information, contact the Elections Office at 386-329-0224 or soe.putnam-fl.com.