TAMPA — Andrew Warren, Hillsborough County State Attorney before he was removed from the office in 2022 by Gov. Ron DeSantis, said Tuesday he will seek to regain the position.

On Wednesday, he spoke one-on-one with Spectrum News anchor Jeff Butera about his decision. You can watch the video in the player above.

In a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Warren said, "I'm running for re-election! I'll never stop fighting for our safety, our freedom, and our democracy."

In the video attached to the post, Warren said the governor “illegally forced me from office” and that he decided to seek a third term even as a judge in Tallahassee considers whether to order his reinstatement later this year. Qualifying for the election ends next week.

He will run against former Hillsborough County Judge Susan Lopez, who replaced him after his suspension by the governor.

DeSantis suspended Warren over the prosecutor’s signing of statements that said he would not pursue criminal charges against seekers or providers of abortion or gender transition treatments, as well as his policies about not charging people with certain minor crimes.

Warren accused DeSantis of suspending him for political reasons and actions protected by the First Amendment, and took him to court, saying the governor did not have a legal right to take him out of elected office.

Warren filed a lawsuit that was dismissed in early 2023, but earlier this year, a federal appellate court vacated that ruling.

The governor’s office said after the 11th U.S. Circuit Court ruling in favor of Warren that it sets a “dangerous precedent” that could permit politically motivated prosecutors to ignore laws they oppose.

Professor Louis Verelli, who teaches constitutional law at Stetson University, says the governor could have a harder time suspending Warren if he’s re-elected.

“It would be different from the first time, because there is a pretty clear ruling from a federal court saying the federal constitution doesn’t support what Governor DeSantis did in terms of First Amendment rights,” Verelli said. “And there is a very good argument for the Florida constitution prohibiting Governor DeSantis from making the decision he did on the basis that he did.”

Lopez has amounted a war chest of over $400,000.

"We’ve been campaigning and by doing the work of the office, crime is down," Lopez said. "We've been very successful and working on our relationships with our law enforcement partners, and with those collaborations crime has gone down in Hillsborough County, as well as the City of Tampa."

Former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn said Lopez is favored by law enforcement.

“I think there are a lot of people in this town who don’t like how he was removed from office, but at the same time, think Suzy Lopez is doing a great job,” Buckhorn said. “And it’s entirely possible for somebody to hold those two views, so it’s gonna be a competitive race.” 

The office that Warren is seeking represents the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Hillsborough County.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.