Former state Senator José Javier Rodríguez has officially secured the Democratic nomination for Florida Attorney General after qualifying unopposed for the statewide race.
With no other Democrats entering the contest, Rodríguez automatically advances to the November General Election, where he will face incumbent Attorney General James Uthmeier in one of Florida’s highest-profile statewide races.
“Today it is official: I am honored to be the Democratic nominee for Florida Attorney General,” Rodríguez said in a statement Friday.
Rodríguez launched his campaign promising to focus on issues he says matter most to Florida families, including crime, affordability, and government accountability.
“We launched my campaign committed to the notion that Floridians deserve an Attorney General who works for them, not for special interests. Since then, we’ve built a statewide campaign focused on tackling the three issues that matter most to Florida families: crime, higher costs, and corruption in Tallahassee,” Rodríguez said.
The Democratic nominee previously served in the Florida Senate and later worked as an Assistant Secretary of Labor in the Biden administration. He now turns his attention to a statewide campaign against one of Florida’s most prominent Republican officeholders.
Uthmeier Enters Race With Financial Advantage
Attorney General James Uthmeier enters the General Election with significant financial advantages and strong support from Florida’s Republican establishment.
Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Uthmeier to the position last year after he served in multiple roles within the Governor’s administration, including Chief of Staff.
Since taking office, Uthmeier has become one of Florida’s most visible statewide officials, frequently leading legal challenges, immigration initiatives, consumer protection efforts, and government accountability investigations.
Campaign finance reports show Rodríguez has raised approximately $641,000 and spent roughly $366,000.
By comparison, Uthmeier has raised more than $1.3 million through his campaign account while spending about $266,000.
The financial gap grows even larger when outside political support is considered. Friends of James Uthmeier, a committee supporting the Attorney General, has raised more than $7.8 million while spending less than $770,000.
Sharp Differences Expected
The race is expected to feature sharp contrasts on public safety, government accountability, immigration enforcement, consumer protection, and the role of the Attorney General’s office.
Rodríguez has already criticized what he views as political overreach by the current administration, while Uthmeier has positioned himself as a defender of Gov. DeSantis’ conservative agenda and legal priorities.
The Democratic nominee says he plans to spend the coming months traveling Florida and taking his message directly to voters.
“As the People’s Lawyer, I will fight to make our communities safer, bring down costs for working families, and hold the powerful accountable,” Rodríguez said.
Why It Matters
The Attorney General serves as Florida’s chief legal officer and plays a major role in state litigation, consumer protection, public safety, election-related legal disputes, and constitutional challenges. The contest between Rodríguez and Uthmeier is expected to become one of Florida’s most closely watched statewide races heading into November.
