Attorney General James Uthmeier[1] now has the most important vote of confidence available in the Republican Party, as President Donald Trump[2] is endorsing him for a full term.
“In his next term, James will continue to work tirelessly to Ensure Law and Order, Uphold our Constitutional Rights, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment. James Uthmeier is a Strong Conservative Fighter and Prosecutor, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN,” Trump posted to social media.
Uthmeier getting Trump’s endorsement likely ends speculation that House Speaker Daniel Perez[3] will run, as the case for his candidacy was predicated on the President’s backing. Perez tells Florida Politics[4] that he was honored to be encouraged to run, but Florida AG was never in the cards for him or a position he sought.
Gov. Ron DeSantis[5] appointed Uthmeier as Attorney General earlier this year following now-U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody’s exit. Uthmeier is the lone major Republican in the race.
As things stand, Uthmeier is likely to face former Sen. José Javier Rodríguez in the General Election next year.
Uthmeier was the Governor’s Chief of Staff from September 2021 until being appointed in February. He had been General Counsel since October 2020 and first began working in DeSantis’ legal office as Deputy General Counsel in March 2019.
However, Uthmeier did take a break from the official position to help DeSantis’ campaign for President in 2023, serving as Campaign Manager of the presidential effort against Trump.
Despite taking on that role, it’s clear the President has moved on from the drama of the past election cycle.
“James is an America First Warrior, who is a true champion for ‘MAGA.’ He is THE MAN behind ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ, and argued strongly at the United States Supreme Court in defense of my Executive Power to fire Deep State bureaucrats,” Trump posted Wednesday.
“Under James’ fearless leadership, over 1,000 CRIMINAL PEDOPHILES have been arrested, missing children have been SAVED, and our Great Members of Law Enforcement have been empowered to do their jobs and, KEEP FLORIDA SAFE.”
Before joining the DeSantis administration, Uthmeier served as a senior adviser and counsel to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross during Trump’s first term, and he was an associate at the law firm Jones Day.
Uthmeier has already been fundraising. Though third-quarter numbers are not publicly available, he closed June with nearly $600,000 in his campaign account, and more than $2 million in the “Friends of James Uthmeier[6]” political committee.
Uthmeier, a Destin native, received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Florida before getting his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center.
___
Florida Politics staff contributed to this report.
References
- ^ James Uthmeier (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ Donald Trump (x.com)
- ^ Daniel Perez (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ Florida Politics (x.com)
- ^ Ron DeSantis (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ Friends of James Uthmeier (dos.elections.myflorida.com)