James Uthmeier | |
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![]() Official portrait, 2025 | |
39th Attorney General of Florida | |
Assumed office February 17, 2025 | |
Governor | Ron DeSantis |
Preceded by | Ashley Moody |
Chief of Staff to the Governor of Florida | |
In office October 2021 –February 2025 | |
Governor | Ron DeSantis |
Preceded by | Adrian Lukis |
Succeeded by | Jason Weida |
Personal details | |
Born | James William Uthmeier November 20,1987 Destin,Florida,U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Jean Uthmeier |
Children | 3 |
Education | University of Florida (BS,MA) Georgetown University (JD) |
James William Uthmeier (born November 20,1987) is an American politician and lawyer serving as the 39th attorney general of Florida since 2025. A member of the Republican Party,he previously served as chief of staff to Governor Ron DeSantis from 2021 to 2025.
Uthmeier is a native of Destin,Florida. [1] He attended Fort Walton Beach High School and later graduated from the University of Florida,where he had competed for the Florida Gators track and field program. [2] He graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 2014. Prior to joining the Trump administration he was an associate at Jones Day. [3]
Uthmeier worked from 2017 to 2019 in the U.S. Department of Commerce as a senior counsel and senior advisor in the Trump administration. [4] [ user-generated source? ] He then joined the office of Florida governor Ron DeSantis as deputy general counsel in 2019,then was promoted in 2020 to general counsel. [4] [ user-generated source? ] In October 2021,he was appointed chief of staff to the Governor,succeeding Adrian Lukis. [5] He remained as chief of staff until his appointment as attorney general and was succeeded by Secretary Jason Weida. [6]
From 2023 to 2024,Uthmeier served as campaign manager of Ron DeSantis's unsuccessful 2024 presidential campaign. [7]
On January 16,2025,Governor DeSantis announced his intention to appoint Attorney General Ashley Moody to the United States Senate to succeed Marco Rubio,should he be confirmed as United States Secretary of State. [8] DeSantis also announced he would appoint Uthmeier to succeed Moody as attorney general,in the event of a vacancy. [9]
On February 17,2025,Uthmeier was sworn in as the 39th attorney general of Florida. [3] [10] He is the youngest attorney general since Robert L. Shevin and the first from the Florida panhandle since James W. Kynes.[ citation needed ]
On February 25,he filed paperwork to seek a full term in 2026. [11] The following day,Uthmeir released a new seal for the Office of the Attorney General of Florida,referencing the "Free State of Florida". [12]