Desantis' Former Chief Of Staff James Uthmeier Sworn In As Florida's Attorney General

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday named his former chief of staff, James Uthmeier as Florida's attorney general, handing the state's top law enforcement role to a trusted aide who has helped orchestrate and defend some of his most divisive initiatives .

Uthmeier was sworn in Monday during a ceremony in Tallahassee. The 37-year-old becomes one of the youngest state attorneys general and the latest person to benefit from the political shuffle sparked by President Donald Trump 's drafting of Sunshine State Republicans for his new administration. Uthmeier is poised to spearhead Florida's legal battles to bolster Trump's sweeping conservative agenda, at a time when the state's leaders are eager to pass new laws and challenge legal precedent to demonstrate their allegiance to the president.

Uthmeier succeeds former Attorney General Ashley Moody , whom the governor tapped to fill the U.S. Senate seat of Marco Rubio , Trump's pick to be U.S. secretary of state.

DeSantis said Uthmeier was a "bulldog in our administration" who will not shy away from a difficult fight. The Republican governor praised Uthmeier's work in his administration, including fighting federal mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic and combating diversity, equity and inclusion programs in higher education.

"All throughout our administration, James was always digging in and fighting for what was right even when it wasn't easy," DeSantis said during the ceremony.