SEIU Florida Backs Democrat Rodríguez in State Attorney General Race

Florida's largest healthcare and service workers union has thrown its weight behind Democrat José Javier Rodríguez in the race for state Attorney General, a contest that could reshape how Tallahassee handles the insurance and utility fights that have drained Treasure Coast household budgets for years.

SEIU Florida, which represents more than 80,000 active and retired healthcare professionals statewide, announced its endorsement at a South Florida press conference this week. The union's District Director, Helene O'Brien, did not mince words about the stakes. "Florida's workers are tired — tired of a state government led by Ron DeSantis and James Uthmeier that has consistently failed working families and made life harder for workers across our state," O'Brien said in a statement.

Rodríguez, a Miami labor lawyer and former state senator, has built a campaign around promises that land squarely on the issues Treasure Coast residents raise at every county commission meeting and utility rate hearing: lowering electric bills, delivering insurance relief, protecting the state minimum wage and taking on corporate landlords who have squeezed rental markets from Stuart to Vero Beach.

"Floridians deserve an Attorney General who will stand up for workers and consumers, hold corporations accountable and make sure the law works for everyday people, not just the wealthy and well-connected," Rodríguez said.

The SEIU endorsement adds to a roster that already includes VoteWater — a group with deep roots on the Treasure Coast — former U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, former Attorney General Bob Butterworth and former Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg, according to campaign records.

Rodríguez faces incumbent Attorney General James Uthmeier, who was appointed by Gov. DeSantis early last year and has since raised more than $8 million. Rodríguez crossed $1 million raised earlier this year and carried roughly $490,000 cash on hand heading into April — a significant funding gap he is working to close through labor and progressive endorsements.

His path to this race has its own dramatic chapter: he lost his 2020 state Senate re-election bid by 32 votes in what courts and prosecutors later documented as a Republican-orchestrated ghost candidate scheme. He subsequently served as Assistant Secretary of Labor under President Biden.

Two Democrats — Rodríguez and former state prosecutor Jim Lewis — are competing in the Aug. 18 primary. Uthmeier faces his own primary challenger, litigator Steven Leskovich. The general election is Nov. 3.

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