TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — President Donald Trump has officially endorsed the current Attorney General, James Uthmeier, as he looks to secure his position in the upcoming election.

That election will happen next year, with a challenger now in the race hoping to replace him.

Appointed by Governor Gon DeSantis in February, Uthmeier quickly moved to formally enter the election for his role just days after being sworn in.

“Our goal is to utilize the attorney general’s office effectively to hold criminals accountable, safeguard the innocent, and strongly support our dedicated law enforcement officers,” Uthmeier stated.

Since assuming office, Uthmeier has gained recognition for intensifying investigations into child sex crimes, proposing the Alligator Alcatraz facility for illegal immigration detention in South Florida, and assisting in securing a presidential library location for Trump in Miami.

Trump has given his endorsement to Uthmeier to carry on his duties as attorney general beyond 2026, praising him as a “warrior for America’s priorities” and a staunch advocate for the MAGA movement.

And while Uthmeier is shaping up to be the GOP lead in the race, Democratic candidate Jose Javier Rodriguez is questioning his actions as AG so far.

“The job of the attorney general is to advocate for the people, to be the people’s lawyer. He has been doing the exact opposite,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez, a lawyer and former state senator from Miami, critiqued Uthmeier’s efforts, suggesting that he is deeply involved in corruption within the capitol, highlighting his purported connections to the Hope Florida scandal.

“There’s a criminal investigation opened into a scheme that he was involved in where it looks like they took $10 million out of the Medicaid program that made their way into political campaigns,” Rodriguez said.

While that scrutiny could creep up on the campaign trial, Uthmeier has denied any wrongdoing.