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José Javier Rodríguez (Florida politician)

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José Javier Rodríguez
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training
In office
April 2024 – January 20, 2025
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byBrent Parton (acting)
Succeeded byTBD
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 37th district
In office
November 8, 2016 – November 3, 2020
Preceded byRedistricted
Succeeded byIleana Garcia
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 112th district
In office
November 6, 2012 – November 8, 2016
Preceded byRedistricted
Succeeded byNicholas Duran
Personal details
Born (1978-08-08) August 8, 1978 (age 46)
High Point, North Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseSonia Succar Ferré
EducationBrown University (BA)
Harvard University (JD)

José Javier Rodríguez (born August 8, 1978), often called "JJR," is an American politician and attorney from Florida who is running for Florida Attorney General.[1] JJR previously served as the Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training at the United States Department of Labor from 2024 to 2025,[2][3] in the Florida Senate from 2016 to 2020,[4] and in the Florida House of Representatives from 2012-2016.[5]

Early life and education

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Jose Javier Rodríguez grew up in Miami, Florida. His father fled Cuba when he was fifteen years old during Operation Pedro Pan, and his mother's family had midwestern roots.[6]

JJR was an Eagle Scout and graduated from Miami Palmetto Senior High School. He attended Brown University, receiving a degree in international relations in 2000. JJR served in the U.S. Peace Corps from 2000 to 2003.[7] Rodríguez earned his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 2006. [8]

Campaign for Florida Attorney General

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On June 2, 2025, Rodriguez launched his campaign for Florida Attorney General, saying he wants to be the "people's lawyer."[9] [10] Rodriguez told political correspondents he is running on an anti-corruption platform, with a focus on consumer protection and bringing independence back to the office of the Florida Attorney General.[11] JJR's priorities include the cost of insurance, supporting law enforcement, defending our rights, stopping the fentanyl crisis, and protecting our communities.[12]

James Uthmeier, who is serving the remainder of Ashley Moody's term, is also running.[13] Uthmeier has denied wrongdoing in his role in what may be the misuse of taxpayer dollars in the Hope Florida controversy. [14][15][16]

Career

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Florida House of Representatives

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2012 Florida House of Representatives

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JJR defeated a veteran lawmaker which stunned some observers. [17] JJR faced Alex Dominguez in the Democratic primary, which the Miami Herald called a "low-key" race compared to the acidic Republican primary.[18] Rodríguez won the primary with 58% of the vote. In the general election, JJR faced former State Senator Alex Díaz de la Portilla. Rodríguez campaigned on supporting public education, encouraging economic growth,[19] and the fresh perspective that he would bring to the legislature, noting, "[m]y opponent practically invented the business model of pandering to voters in Miami and then selling us out in Tallahassee."[20] Rodríguez defeated Díaz de la Portilla, receiving 54% of the vote.

Rodríguez was known as a thoughtful legislator. [21] He served on the Select Committee on Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; the Finance & Tax Subcommittee; Select Committee on Redistricting; and the Health Quality Subcommittee, among others. [22]

2014 Florida House of Representatives

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In 2014, JJR faced another competitive race for the Florida House of Representatives. He enjoyed bipartisan support for this race. [23] JJR won this race with 51% of the vote against Daniel Diaz Leva.[24]

Rodríguez served on the Finance & Tax Committee; Judiciary Committee; Justice Appropriations Subcommittee; and the Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee.[25]

Florida Senate

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2016 Florida Senate

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In 2016, court-ordered redistricting created a new 37th district which included all of Rodríguez's house district. Rodríguez decided to run for the new seat against incumbent state senator Miguel Díaz de la Portilla, the brother of Alex. Rodríguez defeated Díaz de la Portilla in the general election, 49% to 46%.[26]

Rodriguez served on the Judiciary Committee; Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; Ethics and Elections Committee; and the Rules Committee. [27]

2020 Florida Senate Race

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In 2020, Rodríguez lost his re-election bid to Republican Ileana Garcia by a narrow margin of 34 votes.[28] The ballot also included an independent candidate with the same surname, Alex Rodríguez, who was previously registered as Republican. He received more than 6,000 votes and his campaign was funded with dark money linked to Republican strategists.[29][30] Former state senator Frank Artiles, a Republican, took credit for engineering Alex Rodríguez's run and Garcia's subsequent victory, according to a report by The Miami Herald.[31] Artiles was arrested after it became apparent that he paid $44,708.03 to the sham candidate.[32]

U.S. Government service

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JJR served in the U.S. Peace Corps from 2000 to 2003 in Senegal. [33]

On July 2, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Rodriguez to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Employment & Training in the Department of Labor. Hearings were held on the nomination in the Senate HELP Committee on October 7, 2021. The committee deadlocked on the nomination on October 26, 2021. Rodriguez's initial nomination expired at the end of the year and was returned to President Biden on January 3, 2022.[34] President Biden resent his nomination to the Senate the following day. On January 13, 2022, the committee reported his nomination favorably to the Senate floor.[35] His nomination again expired and was resent on January 23, 2023.[36] On November 28, 2023, the Senate failed to invoke cloture on his nomination by a 44–51 vote.[37] His nomination was confirmed by the Senate on March 21, 2024 by a 50–48 vote.[38]

Personal life

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Rodríguez married Sonia Succar Ferré, the granddaughter of former Miami mayor Maurice Ferré, in 2014.[39] JJR and Sonia have two sons.

References

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  1. ^ https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/02/rodriguez-attorney-general-campaign/83989094007/
  2. ^ "President Biden Announces Seven Key Nominations". The White House. 2021-07-02. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  3. ^ "Biden taps Miami politician to lead Labor Department's unemployment programs". Miami Herald. 2021-07-02. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  4. ^ https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/2018-2020/S37/5202
  5. ^ https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4563&SessionId=75
  6. ^ https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/jose-javier-rodriguez-master-of-the-minority-6555053
  7. ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodriguezjosejavier/details/experience/
  8. ^ https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4563&SessionId=75
  9. ^ https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/06/02/jose-javier-rodriguez-says-hes-running-for-attorney-general-to-become-the-peoples-lawyer/
  10. ^ https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/02/rodriguez-attorney-general-campaign/83989094007/
  11. ^ Ceballos, Ana (June 2, 2025). "He lost his Senate seat to a conspiracy. Now he wants to be Florida's top prosecutor". Miami Herald.
  12. ^ https://www.jjr.vote/priorities
  13. ^ https://floridapolitics.com/archives/724017-james-uthmeier-to-officially-kick-off-ag-campaign-next-week/
  14. ^ https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/04/21/hope-florida-foundation-lawyer-says-he-cant-attend-committee-hearing/
  15. ^ https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2025/04/22/desantis-casey-medicaid-settlement-hope-charity-andrade/
  16. ^ https://www.wusf.org/politics-issues/2025-04-23/uthmeier-denies-role-hope-florida-investigation-announces-snapchat-lawsuit
  17. ^ https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article2666455.html
  18. ^ Caputo, Marc (July 26, 2012). "Nasty state House race turns nastier". Miami Herald. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  19. ^ McGrory, Kathleen (November 7, 2012). "Newcomer Jose Javier Rodriguez makes a strong showing". Miami Herald. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  20. ^ McGrory, Kathleen (October 21, 2012). "Rookie battles veteran in state House race". Miami Herald. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  21. ^ https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article2666455.html
  22. ^ https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4563&LegislativeTermId=85
  23. ^ https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article2666455.html
  24. ^ https://results.elections.myflorida.com/SummaryRpt.asp?DATAMODE=&ElectionDate=11%2F4%2F2014&Race=LEG
  25. ^ https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4563&LegislativeTermId=86
  26. ^ Klas, Mary Ellen; Charles, Jacqueline; Staletovich, Jenny (2016-11-08). "Diaz de la Portilla and Bullard defeated in state Senate upsets". Miami Herald. Retrieved 2016-11-13.
  27. ^ https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/2018-2020/S37/5202
  28. ^ Gross, Samantha (2020-11-12). "After 3-day recount, incumbent Democrat loses Senate seat to Ileana Garcia by 34 votes". Miami herald. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  29. ^ Milberg, Glenna (2020-11-11). "Evidence suggests several state Senate candidates were plants funded by dark money". Local10. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  30. ^ Glover, Scott Glover (24 November 2020). "A dark money mystery in the Sunshine State". CNN. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
  31. ^ Ceballos, Ana; Gross, Samatha (December 3, 2020). "Disgraced Republican lawmaker planted no-party candidate in key Senate race, sources say". The Miami Herald. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  32. ^ "Former Sen. Frank Artiles arrested in no-party candidate case | Miami Herald". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  33. ^ https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4563&SessionId=75
  34. ^ "PN796 — Jose Javier Rodriguez — Department of Labor 117th Congress (2021-2022)". US Congress. 3 January 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  35. ^ "PN1591 — Jose Javier Rodriguez — Department of Labor 117th Congress (2021-2022)". US Congress. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  36. ^ "PN157 — Jose Javier Rodriguez — Department of Labor 118th Congress (2023-2024)". US Congress. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  37. ^ "November 28, 2023". U.S. Senate Daily Press. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  38. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Jose Javier Rodriguez, of Florida, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor)". US Senate. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  39. ^ McGregory, Kathleen (2014-10-10). "Rising stars face off in closely watched Florida House race". Miami Herald. Retrieved 2017-05-09.
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Florida House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 112th district
2012–2016 		Succeeded by
Florida Senate
Preceded by Member of the Florida Senate
from the 37th district
2016–2020 		Succeeded by
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