James William Uthmeier, born November 25, 1987, is a Republican serving as the 39th Attorney General of Florida statewide since his appointment by Governor Ron DeSantis on February 17, 2025. At age 37, he became one of the youngest state attorneys general in Florida history and the first from the Florida panhandle since James W. Kynes. Notable achievements include leading culture-war lawsuits against corporations, establishing the "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention facility, chairing political committees that raised over $1 million to oppose 2024 ballot amendments on abortion and marijuana, and orchestrating high-profile initiatives like migrant transportations to Martha's Vineyard. He filed to seek a full term in 2026.

Education and Political Experience

• Grew up in Destin, Florida; graduated from the University of Florida, where he competed in varsity track and cross-country for the national champion Gators.
• Earned a law degree from Georgetown Law.
• Began career as a litigation associate at Jones Day's Washington, D.C. office.
• Served 2017–2019 as senior counsel and senior advisor at the U.S. Department of Commerce under Secretary Wilbur Ross in the Trump administration.
• Joined Governor Ron DeSantis's office in 2019 as deputy general counsel, promoted to general counsel in 2020.
• Appointed chief of staff in October 2021, overseeing executive staff, 20 state agencies, and over 100,000 employees until 2025.