Jump to content

James Uthmeier

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

James Uthmeier
Official portrait, 2025
39th Florida Attorney General
Incumbent
Assumed office
February 17, 2025
GovernorRon DeSantis
Preceded byAshley Moody
Chief of Staff to the Governor of Florida
In office
October 2021 – February 2025
GovernorRon DeSantis
Preceded byAdrian Lukis
Succeeded byJason Weida
Personal details
Born
James William Uthmeier

(1987-11-20) November 20, 1987 (age 37)
Destin, Florida, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJean Uthmeier
Children3
EducationUniversity of Florida (BS, MA)
Georgetown University (JD)

James William Uthmeier (born November 20, 1987) is an American politician and lawyer serving as the 39th Florida attorney general since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as chief of staff to Governor Ron DeSantis from 2021 to 2025.

Early life and career

[edit]

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]

Florida Attorney General (2025–present)

[edit]

On January 16, 2025, Governor DeSantis announced his intention to appoint Attorney General Ashley Moody to the United States Senate to succeed Marco Rubio.[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 Florida attorney general.[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, 2025, he filed paperwork to seek a full term in 2026.[11] The following day, Uthmeier released a new seal for the Office of the Florida attorney general, referencing the "Free State of Florida".[12]

In March 2025, Uthmeier opened a criminal investigation into social media personalities Andrew and Tristan Tate, saying: "We're going to pursue every tool we have within our legal authority to hold them accountable".[13][14] Despite the brothers' relocation to Las Vegas, Uthmeier confirmed his investigation would continue.[15] Andrew Tate criticized the investigation as "absolute communism."[15] On March 13, Andrew Tate returned to Miami and "taunted" Uthmeier to "arrest [him]".[16]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Thompson, Jim (September 23, 2021). "Destin native James Uthmeier named new chief of staff for Gov. Ron DeSantis". Northwest Florida Daily News.
  2. ^ "James Uthmeier". Florida Gators.
  3. ^ a b Matat, Stephany; Payne, Kate (February 17, 2025). "Gov. Ron DeSantis' former chief of staff James Uthmeier sworn in as Florida's attorney general". Associated Press. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "James Uthmeier". Ballotpedia.
  5. ^ Downey, Renzo (September 23, 2021). "James Uthmeier named Ron DeSantis' next Chief of Staff". Florida Politics. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  6. ^ "Who is James Uthmeier? Gov. DeSantis appoints new Florida attorney general". CBS News. February 17, 2025. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  7. ^ Nehamas, Nicholas; Goldmacher, Shane; Haberman, Maggie (August 8, 2023). "DeSantis Replaces Campaign Manager in Major Shake-Up". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  8. ^ Ogles, Jacob (January 16, 2025). "Gov. DeSantis names Ashley Moody to succeed Marco Rubio in the Senate". Florida Politics. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  9. ^ Gancarski, A.G. (January 16, 2025). "Gov. DeSantis says James Uthmeier will be next Attorney General". Florida Politics. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  10. ^ Rohrer, Gray (February 17, 2025). "James Uthmeier sworn in as Florida attorney general in Tallahassee ceremony". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  11. ^ Ogles, Jacob (February 25, 2025). "James Uthmeier officially files for full term as Attorney General". Florida Politics. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  12. ^ @AGJamesUthmeier (February 26, 2025). "Earlier today, I announced the new seal for the Office of the Attorney General" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^ Rosica, Jim (March 4, 2025). "Florida attorney general confirms criminal probe into Tate brothers' visit to state". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  14. ^ Habeshian, Sareen (March 4, 2025). "Florida AG launches criminal investigation into Tate brothers". Axios. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  15. ^ a b Fields, Ashleigh (March 7, 2025). "Florida AG will continue Tate brother investigation, despite their departure". The Hill. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  16. ^ Gancarski, A.G. (March 13, 2025). "'Arrest me': Andrew Tate taunts silent Ron DeSantis, James Uthmeier". Florida Politics. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
Legal offices
Preceded by
John Guard
Acting
 Florida Attorney General
2025–present 		Incumbent


Flag of FloridaPolitician icon

This article about a Florida politician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Uthmeier&oldid=1288517470"