Incumbent Sheriff Marcos Lopez has secured his spot in the November general election after winning the Democratic primary on Tuesday in Osceola County. Lopez received 36.91% of the vote, defeating four challengers, with his closest competitor, former veteran Osceola Deputy Wiley Black, receiving 22.3%, and former Sheriff Russ Gibson trailing with 18.11%. Amaryllis Rivera received 16.10% of the primary’s vote.
Sheriff Lopez thanked a crowd of supporters at Martin’s BBQ in Kissimmee where he held an ” Election Celebration Party” after the win.
During his first term, Lopez implemented several initiatives, including a female deputy recruiting strategy called Women Warriors, the creation of a real-time crime center, and the formation of new specialty units like the Tactical Anti-Crime Unit and the Osceola County Narcotics Bureau.
Sheriff Lopez will face Republican candidate Donnie Martinez, who ran unopposed in his primary, in the general election on November 5th.
