James Uthmeier | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2025 | |
| 39thFlorida Attorney General | |
| Assumed office February 17, 2025 | |
| Governor | Ron DeSantis |
| Preceded by | Ashley Moody |
| Chief of Staff to theGovernor 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 (1987-11-20)November 20, 1987 (age 37) 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 39thFlorida attorney general since 2025. A member of theRepublican Party, he previously served as chief of staff to GovernorRon DeSantis from 2021 to 2025.
Uthmeier is a native ofDestin, Florida.[1] He attendedFort Walton Beach High School and later graduated from theUniversity of Florida, where he had competed for theFlorida Gators track and field program.[2] He graduated fromGeorgetown University Law Center in 2014. Prior to joining the Trump administration he was anassociate atJones Day.[3]
Uthmeier worked from 2017 to 2019 in theU.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 SecretaryJason Weida.[6]
From 2023 to 2024, Uthmeier served ascampaign manager of Ron DeSantis's unsuccessful2024 presidential campaign.[7]
On January 16, 2025,Governor DeSantis announced his intention to appoint Attorney General Ashley Moody to theUnited States Senate to succeedMarco Rubio, should he be confirmed asUnited 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 Florida attorney general.[3][10] He is the youngest attorney general sinceRobert L. Shevin and the first from theFlorida panhandle sinceJames W. Kynes.[citation needed]
On February 25, 2025, he filed paperwork to seek a full term in2026.[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 personalitiesAndrew 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 toLas Vegas, Uthmeier confirmed his investigation would continue.[15] Andrew Tate criticized the investigation as "absolute communism."[15] On March 13, Andrew Tate returned toMiami and "taunted" Uthmeier to "arrest [him]".[16]
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| Preceded by John Guard Acting | Florida Attorney General 2025–present | Incumbent |
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