2026 Florida Attorney General election
November 3, 2026
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The 2026 Florida Attorney General election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the Florida attorney general. Incumbent Republican attorney general James Uthmeier was appointed to the seat following Ashley Moody's appointment to the U.S. Senate.[1] He is running for election to a full four-year term.[2]
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- James Uthmeier, incumbent attorney general[2]
Filed paperwork
- Steven Leskovich, interim Punta Gorda city attorney[3]
Potential
- Chris Sprowls, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives (2020–2022) from the 65th district (2014–2022)[4]
Declined
- Pam Bondi, U.S. Attorney General (2025–present) and former Florida Attorney General (2011–2019)[5]
- Matt Gaetz, former U.S. Representative from Florida's 1st congressional district (2017–2024)[6]
- Daniel Perez, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives (2024–present) from the 116th district (2018–present)[7]
- Paul Renner, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives (2022–2024) from the 19th district (2015–2024) (running for governor)[8]
Endorsements
James Uthmeier
- Executive branch officials
- Donald Trump, 45th and 47th president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)[9]
- County officials
- 51 county sheriffs[10]
- Party officials
- Evan Power, chair of the Republican Party of Florida (2024–present)[11]
- Political parties
- Organizations
Polling
Hypothetical polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Matt Gaetz |
James Uthmeier |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)[14] | February 26–27, 2025 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 39% | 21% | 40% |
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Jim Lewis, candidate for Attorney General in 2022[15]
- José Javier Rodríguez, former Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training (2024–2025) and former state senator (2016–2020)[16]
Declined
- Jerry Demings, Mayor of Orange County (2018–present) and husband of former U.S. representative Val Demings[17] (running for the 2026 Florida gubernatorial election)
Endorsements
José Javier Rodríguez
- Statewide officials
- Bob Butterworth, former Florida Attorney General (1987–2002)[18]
- Alex Sink, former Chief Financial Officer of Florida (2007–2011)[19]
- State legislators
- Sean Shaw, former state representative from the 61st district (2016–2018)[20]
- Local officials
- Dave Aronberg, former Palm Beach County state attorney (2013–2025)[20]
- Dan Gelber, mayor of Miami Beach (2017–2023)[21]
- Organizations
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[23] | Safe R | August 21, 2025 |
Polling
James Uthmeier vs. José Javier Rodríguez
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
James Uthmeier (R) |
José Javier Rodríguez (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Florida[24] | October 15–25, 2025 | 728 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 45%[b] | 36% | 5%[c] | 14% |
| 41% | 35% | 4%[d] | 20% |
See also
Notes
Partisan clients
References
- ^ 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 24, 2025.
- ^ a b Taylor, Janelle Irwin (March 3, 2025). "James Uthmeier to officially kick off AG campaign next week". Florida Politics. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
- ^ Wood, Tristan (July 3, 2025). ""Alligator Alcatraz" a political boost for AG Uthmeier, Florida politicos say". WFSU-TV. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
So far, one other Republican, Punta Gorda Attorney Steven Leskovich, has filed to run for Attorney General.
- ^ Ogles, Jacob (February 25, 2025). "James Uthmeier officially files for full term as Attorney General". Florida Politics. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
- ^ Gancarski, A.G. (February 24, 2025). "Pam Bondi was 'seriously considering' running for Florida AG before Donald Trump called her up". Florida Politics. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
- ^ Fineout, Gaty; Leonard, Kimberly (July 11, 2025). "'Alligator Alcatraz' main architect eyes a new project: Trump's endorsement". Politico. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Trump ally who at one point was seen as a potential rival for the state attorney general job...now says he has no plans to seek office next year.
- ^ Gancarski, A.G. (October 8, 2025). "Donald Trump endorses 'America First Warrior' James Uthmeier, likely closing door on Primary challenge". Florida Politics. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ Gancarski, A.G. (September 3, 2025). "Paul Renner, former Florida House speaker, announces run for Governor". Florida Politics. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
- ^ "Trump backs DeSantis-allied Uthmeier for Florida attorney general". POLITICO. October 8, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ Wilson, Drew (October 7, 2025). "51 Sheriffs back James Uthmeier for Attorney General". Florida Politics. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
- ^ a b Gancarski, A.G. (January 10, 2026). "Florida GOP backs James Uthmeier for Attorney General". Florida Politics. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
- ^ "2026 Club for Growth PAC-Endorsed Candidates". Club for Growth PAC. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
- ^ Koremenos, Johnny (September 29, 2025). "RAGA Endorses Florida AG James Uthmeier for '26, Commits Seven Figures to the Race". Republican Attorneys General Association. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
- ^ Caputo, Marc (March 6, 2025). "Exclusive: Gaetz could be next Florida attorney general". Axios. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
- ^ Amelia Orjuela Da Silva (February 4, 2026). "Miami-Dade Democrats target 2026 midterms with new organizing strategy". The Miami Times. WLRN. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
Democrats are also eyeing the attorney general's race, where Jose Javier Rodriguez and Jim Lewis are mounting challenges to incumbent James Uthmeier.
- ^ Scheckner, Jesse (June 2, 2025). "José Javier Rodríguez launches bid for Attorney General, vows to 'root out corruption'". Florida Politics. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ Leonard, Kimberly (August 5, 2025). "Jerry Demings floats trial balloon". Politico. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ^ Scheckner, Jesse (January 26, 2026). "Bob Butterworth backs José Javier Rodríguez's bid for Attorney General". Florida Politics. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ^ Leonard, Kimberly; Williams, Kylie (February 6, 2026). "How Donalds is handling the hits". Politico. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ a b Scheckner, Jesse (February 4, 2026). "Dave Aronberg, Sean Shaw endorse José Javier Rodríguez for Attorney General". Florida Politics. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
- ^ Scheckner, Jesse (January 28, 2026). "'Unimpeachable character': Dan Gelber endorses José Javier Rodríguez for Attorney General". Florida Politics. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
- ^ Scheckner, Jesse (October 28, 2025). "'We need him': Latino Victory Fund endorses José Javier Rodríguez for Attorney General". Florida Politics. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
- ^ "State Attorneys General: The Top Races to be "Top Cop"". Sabato's Crystal Ball. August 21, 2025. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ "Potential Republicans lead Democrats in Florida midterm matchups" (PDF). University of North Florida. October 28, 2025. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
External links
Official campaign websites