Gov. Ron DeSantis plans to appoint his chief of staff and Destin native James Uthmeier as Florida’s next attorney general, following current Attorney General Ashley Moody’s appointment to the U.S. Senate.

• DeSantis announced his intention during a Thursday press conference, where he drew parallels between Uthmeier and Moody. “My Chief of Staff, James Uthmeier, is kind of like Ashley. He’s proven himself in these fights,” DeSantis said.

Uthmeier, a Fort Walton Beach High School graduate, will step into the role after Moody departs to fill Sen. Marco Rubio’s Senate seat. Rubio is set to become secretary of state under President-elect Donald Trump.

“I think he’s got big shoes to fill, but I think he’ll do a good job doing that,” DeSantis said, while noting he would not make the appointment official until the position becomes vacant.

Following the announcement, Uthmeier expressed gratitude on X: 

“I’m honored and humbled to be appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis as the next Attorney General of the Free State of Florida.” He pledged to “build on AG Ashley Moody’s fine record, help enact the @realDonaldTrump agenda, and defend our people, our constitution, and our Florida way of life!”