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Op-ed

The Conservative Case for James Uthmeier

By Sam RomainChairman, Polk County Republican Executive Committee

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, Gov. DeSantis' former chief of staff, is the Trump-endorsed Republican nominee for Attorney General Nov. 3.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is the Republican nominee for Attorney General of Florida, and he is endorsed by the Polk County Republican Executive Committee. Every Polk County voter will see this race on the ballot in the general election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. James Uthmeier was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and sworn in on February 17, 2025, and this is his first election for the office.

Quick facts: Attorney General James Uthmeier

Who is James Uthmeier?

James Uthmeier grew up in Destin and graduated from Fort Walton Beach High School. He ran varsity cross-country and track at the University of Florida and earned his law degree at Georgetown.

He served as counsel to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, and President Trump then appointed him senior advisor and counsel to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. He also worked at a major international law firm, where he argued for First Amendment rights and religious freedom in court.

In Tallahassee, Uthmeier was Gov. DeSantis' general counsel and then, from 2021, his chief of staff. His campaign says he led Florida's legal fights to reopen businesses and schools during COVID and to prohibit mask and vaccine requirements. He and his wife, Jean, have three young children.

Why did Gov. DeSantis choose James Uthmeier?

"This was not a very difficult decision for me to put James as the next attorney general because I know he's got the foundation," Gov. DeSantis said when he appointed him.

The same day he was sworn in, he took his seat with the governor and Cabinet on Florida's newly created State Board of Immigration Enforcement.

What has James Uthmeier done for Polk County?

In September 2025, Uthmeier stood with Sheriff Grady Judd in Polk County to announce the results of a seven-day undercover sting. Polk deputies, federal partners and local police from Auburndale, Bartow, Davenport, Haines City, Lake Wales and Winter Haven charged 230 suspects, and investigators identified twelve possible human trafficking victims. Uthmeier's Office of Statewide Prosecution is prosecuting the cases alongside the State Attorney for the Tenth Judicial Circuit.

The suspects had a combined 296 prior felonies and 348 prior misdemeanors, and 46 were in the country illegally. Uthmeier said the records show that "soft-on-crime policies do not work" and that the state will "get them off the street and protect our kids."

On February 13, 2026, Uthmeier and Sheriff Judd stood together in Winter Haven to announce Operation Flatline, a takedown of two drug trafficking rings tied to the Valentine Bloods gang. The investigation began in August 2025, led by the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Uthmeier's Office of Statewide Prosecution and FDLE. Investigators seized 78 pounds of methamphetamine, 10 pounds of fentanyl, which officials said was enough to kill 3.3 million people, 13 firearms and $20,000 in cash. The network reached from Polk into Hillsborough, Pasco and Orange counties and all the way to California.

"We will continue to target these organizations at every level," Uthmeier said. "Those who traffic in these poisons will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

How is James Uthmeier protecting Florida's children?

By August 2026, more than 2,000 child predators had been arrested since he took office, working with federal, state and local law enforcement. "Protecting our children is my number one priority," Uthmeier said. "If you prey on kids in this state, we will find you, arrest you, and put you behind bars."

He has gone after the apps where predators find children. In December 2025 he sued Roblox for misrepresenting how safe its platform is for kids, and in October 2026 he announced a lawsuit against Discord.

What does James Uthmeier stand for?

In his campaign's words, he is focused on "keeping Florida safe, strong, and free":

  • prosecuting dangerous criminals
  • combatting illegal immigration
  • suing corporations that jeopardize shareholder value by sexualizing and indoctrinating children

Who has endorsed James Uthmeier?

On August 17, 2026, President Donald J. Trump wrote on Truth Social that "Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is doing a GREAT job for the Sunshine State" and called him "an America First Warrior." The President said that under his leadership "over 1,000 CRIMINAL PEDOPHILES have been arrested, missing children have been SAVED," and that "James Uthmeier is a Strong Conservative Fighter and Prosecutor, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement!" He is also endorsed by the Polk County Republican Executive Committee and the Republican Party of Florida, and on September 1 Gov. DeSantis endorsed him with the rest of the statewide ticket.

In July 2026 the Florida Sheriffs Association endorsed him for a full term. Polk Sheriff Grady Judd stood with him. "There was no doubt in my mind that James Uthmeier is simply the very best for the job," Judd said. "I made that not on politics, but on action, on accountability." Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods put it simply: "He prosecutes where it needs to be. He stands behind his sheriffs."

Why should Polk County vote for James Uthmeier?

  • He backs Sheriff Judd. His prosecutors are taking Polk's trafficking-sting and Operation Flatline cases to court.
  • He protects kids. More than 2,000 child predators have been arrested on his watch, and he is suing the apps where predators find children.
  • He continues the DeSantis record. He helped build it as general counsel and chief of staff.
  • He enforces immigration law. He joined the State Board of Immigration Enforcement on the day he was sworn in.
  • He has President Trump's trust. He served in the first Trump administration and has the President's "Complete and Total Endorsement."

Frequently asked questions

Is James Uthmeier a conservative? Yes. He was counsel to President Trump's 2016 campaign, served in the first Trump administration and was Gov. DeSantis' chief of staff. President Trump calls him "a Strong Conservative Fighter and Prosecutor."

What has James Uthmeier done for Polk County? His prosecutors are handling the cases from Sheriff Judd's 2025 trafficking sting (230 arrests) and Operation Flatline, the 2026 Winter Haven takedown that seized 78 pounds of meth and 10 pounds of fentanyl.

Who endorsed James Uthmeier? President Donald J. Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Florida Sheriffs Association, Polk Sheriff Grady Judd, the Republican Party of Florida and the Polk County Republican Executive Committee.

Who is Florida's Attorney General? James Uthmeier, appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and sworn in on February 17, 2025.

When is the election for Attorney General? Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting in Polk County runs October 19 through October 31.

What does the Attorney General do? The Attorney General is Florida's chief legal officer, defending state law in court and running the statewide prosecution and consumer protection units.

Is this James Uthmeier's first election? Yes. He was appointed to the office in 2025, and November 3 is the first time voters will elect him.

How to vote in Polk County

Early voting runs from Monday, October 19 through Saturday, October 31, from 9 AM to 6 PM at any of Polk County's 10 early voting sites. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and polls are open from 7 AM to 7 PM. For locations and vote-by-mail details, see the Polk County GOP Voter Guide.

Vote James Uthmeier for Attorney General.

Want to help? Volunteer today at polk.gop/volunteer.

Sources

Paid political advertisement paid for by the Polk County Republican Executive Committee, 6039 Cypress Gardens Blvd; Box 108, Winter Haven, FL 33884. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Portrait of Sam Romain

About the author

Sam Romain

Chairman, Polk County Republican Executive Committee

Sam Romain is Chairman of the Polk County Republican Executive Committee, the county party organization representing registered Republicans across Polk County's precincts. He writes here on behalf of the committee on elections, county governance and the issues facing Polk County voters.

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