Florida AG Candidate Rodriguez Criticizes Uthmeier’s Corporate Donors
Democratic candidate José Javier Rodríguez slams AG James Uthmeier for accepting $150,000 from gun and tobacco companies seeking legislative protection.
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — Democratic attorney general candidate José Javier Rodríguez criticized Republican incumbent James Uthmeier’s campaign fundraising after first-quarter reports revealed significant donations from gun manufacturers and tobacco companies.
Uthmeier’s political action committee received $50,000 from gun manufacturer Sig Sauer, according to the newly filed campaign finance reports. The firearms company contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Florida Republicans this year while lobbying for legislation that would shield it from liability lawsuits.
The measure, House Bill 1551, passed in the Florida House but died in committee in the Florida Senate. Sig Sauer had sought the legislation to protect itself from potential legal action.
Tobacco Company Contribution Draws Fire
Friends of James Uthmeier also reported receiving a $100,000 contribution from RAI Services Co., a tobacco manufacturer and subsidiary of Reynolds American Inc. The large corporate donations prompted sharp criticism from Rodríguez’s campaign.
“While Florida families are struggling to keep up with rising costs, James Uthmeier is bankrolling his campaign with checks from Big Tobacco and a gun manufacturer looking to avoid accountability,” Rodríguez said in a written statement. “That tells you everything you need to know about who he’s working for, and why Floridians aren’t seeing relief.”
“Floridians deserve an Attorney General who stands up to corporate abuse, not one funded by it. As Attorney General, I’ll be the people’s lawyer — focused on lowering costs, protecting consumers, and holding powerful interests accountable,” Rodríguez added.
Fundraising Gap Highlights Campaign Dynamics
The financial reports reveal a significant fundraising disparity between the candidates. Combined with his regular campaign account, Uthmeier has raised more than $8 million in his bid to win office for the first time after being appointed to the position by Governor Ron DeSantis a year ago.
Rodríguez has raised a combined total of more than $1 million between his regular campaign account and political action committee, representing less than one-eighth of his opponent’s war chest.
As the incumbent attorney general, Uthmeier maintains significant advantages in visibility and media coverage. Through his official position, he generates media coverage on a nearly daily basis by hosting news conferences around the state on various law enforcement matters.
Competitive Race Despite Funding Disadvantage
Despite the substantial fundraising gap, Rodríguez appears to be running a competitive race against his better-funded opponent. A Democratic-based survey of more than 1,000 statewide voters published Monday showed him leading Uthmeier in the November election matchup.
The attorney general race represents one of the key statewide contests Florida voters will decide in November. The position oversees the state’s legal affairs and consumer protection efforts, making corporate influence a central campaign issue.
Campaign finance reports for the first quarter of 2026 were recently filed, providing the first comprehensive look at fundraising totals for major state candidates heading into the election year.
