Florida Senate budget chief Ed Hooper of Clearwater will retire in November
By News Service of Florida
May 13, 2026 at 4:53 PM EDT
Hooper, 78, was elected to the state House in 2006 and served for eight years before moving to the Senate in 2018.
In the middle of budget negotiations with the House, Sen. Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, the Senate’s top budget writer, announced his resignation effective Nov. 3, the date of the midterm elections.
Hooper, 78, was elected to the House in 2006 and served for eight years before moving to the Senate in 2018. His current four-year term wasn’t set to expire until November 2028.
“I have been honored to serve our great state with the support of my wife, Lee. The work we’ve accomplished in the Legislature ranks among my proudest achievements,” Hooper wrote in a letter to senators. “After many thoughtful discussions about our future and about what is best for both our family in this season of life and our community, I have decided it is time to retire and support new leadership to build upon the foundation we have laid.”
https://x.com/Sen_Hooper/status/2054643058373796124
Hooper also wrote a formal resignation letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The move allows DeSantis to call a special election to coincide with the primary and general election dates this year.
The District 21 seat covers northern Pinellas County and southwestern Pasco County.
Nocco to seek Hooper's seat
Later on Wednesday, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco announced he would be stepping down in November to seek election to Hooper's seat.
"I want to first start by thanking everybody," Nocco said in a video statement on the Pasco County Sheriff's Office Facebook page. "The past 15 years, it's been absolute blessing to serve this community, and saying we fight as one is absolutely true.
"I can't thank the community. We rallied together. We've been through great times together. We've been through tough times together. But the one thing is, we've been together and we've been successful."
Hooper, 78, was elected to the House in 2006 and served for eight years before moving to the Senate in 2018. His current four-year term wasn’t set to expire until November 2028.
“I have been honored to serve our great state with the support of my wife, Lee. The work we’ve accomplished in the Legislature ranks among my proudest achievements,” Hooper wrote in a letter to senators. “After many thoughtful discussions about our future and about what is best for both our family in this season of life and our community, I have decided it is time to retire and support new leadership to build upon the foundation we have laid.”
https://x.com/Sen_Hooper/status/2054643058373796124
Hooper also wrote a formal resignation letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The move allows DeSantis to call a special election to coincide with the primary and general election dates this year.
The District 21 seat covers northern Pinellas County and southwestern Pasco County.
Nocco to seek Hooper's seat
Later on Wednesday, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco announced he would be stepping down in November to seek election to Hooper's seat.
"I want to first start by thanking everybody," Nocco said in a video statement on the Pasco County Sheriff's Office Facebook page. "The past 15 years, it's been absolute blessing to serve this community, and saying we fight as one is absolutely true.
"I can't thank the community. We rallied together. We've been through great times together. We've been through tough times together. But the one thing is, we've been together and we've been successful."