Florida’s Republican race for governor just got a jolt. Today, Attorney General James Uthmeier said he is backing U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds in the GOP primary for governor, giving the front-runner a heavyweight ally with statewide reach. Uthmeier framed Donalds as a conservative leader whose priorities line up with the Attorney General’s office on crime, parental rights and gun rights. Donalds, for his part, welcomed the support and said he plans to work closely with Uthmeier’s office moving forward.
As reported by the Tampa Free Press, Uthmeier emphasized Donalds’ conservative record and declared, “He has my endorsement for Governor!” The outlet notes that Uthmeier praised Donalds’ focus on punishing child predators and backing law enforcement, and that this latest nod follows earlier support from the incoming state Senate president and House speaker.
Why the endorsement matters
Uthmeier’s endorsement is not just another name on a press release. He holds a statewide office that connects him to law-enforcement networks across Florida and has built a high media profile since being sworn in as attorney general in February 2025, according to AP News. That kind of platform can translate into valuable law-and-order credibility for a gubernatorial hopeful, especially while voters are weighing crime and public safety.
Party strategists say cabinet-level endorsements can help firm up establishment support heading into a summer primary. With Uthmeier now in Donalds’ corner, rivals may find it tougher to claim they are the natural choice for tough-on-crime conservatives.
Donald’s coalition grows
Uthmeier is joining a growing crowd of institutional backers lining up behind Donalds. The business group Associated Industries of Florida released June polling that showed Donalds holding a commanding lead in the Republican primary, then moved from watching the race to officially endorsing him.
Donalds also entered the contest with a marquee boost from former President Donald Trump. Trump posted his support on Truth Social in February 2025, and ABC News documented the early endorsement. With Trump world, business interests and now the state’s top law-enforcement official lining up, Donalds is steadily stacking up the kind of coalition his opponents will have to chip away at one endorsement at a time.
What’s next
The Republican primary is scheduled for Aug. 18, and the qualifying period has already closed, locking in the field ahead of the summer sprint, ClickOrlando reports. With several weeks before voters cast ballots, Uthmeier’s move is likely to sharpen the race’s focus on law-and-order and parental-rights themes as Donalds’ rivals look for a way to cut into his lead.
For now, though, the endorsement simply adds another prominent name to a growing roster of state and national supporters lined up behind Donalds’ bid for the Governor’s Mansion.
