For Florida Attorney General, we recommend José Javier Rodríguez

The Florida Attorney General race features appointed Republican incumbent James Uthmeier against Democrat José Javier Rodríguez. The winner will serve a four-year term as Florida’s chief legal officer, overseeing consumer protection, statewide prosecutions, and state litigation.

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Uthmeier AG in February 2025, replacing Ashley Moody after her appointment to the U.S. Senate. He was DeSantis' chief of staff at the time.

As AG, Uthmeier has wasted a troubling amount of time and resources prosecuting culture war issues at the expense of what matters to everyday Floridians. We also find his involvement in the Hope Florida scandal to be disqualifying.

Uthmeier has used his position to insert himself into everything from out-of-state WNBA fouls to issues in the Sarasota School District. It seems he is far more interested in building a larger profile among MAGA voters than in fulfilling the office's intended responsibilities.

José Javier Rodríguez is a Miami attorney who served in the Florida House and Senate before being appointed as an assistant secretary of labor in the Biden administration.

Rodríguez's campaign emphasizes consumer protection, combating public corruption, holding corporations accountable, and restoring independence to the AG office. He has criticized Uthmeier for using the office to advance partisan political objectives rather than protect Floridians.

We believe the Attorney General's office must be independent of the executive branch and focused on protecting all Floridians. Even the suggestion of the partisan red-meat political theatrics Uthmeier regularly engages in should be anathema to the office.

We appreciate Rodríguez's focus on the core responsibilities of being an effective AG and feel he is the much better candidate to deliver in that role.