This candidate did not respond to the News Collaborative of Central Florida questionnaire. Using the candidate\u2019s website and social posts, we have tried to provide answers to our questions.<\/p>\n
Age: 48<\/p>\n
Party: Democrat<\/p>\n
Education: Bachelors, International relations and affairs, Brown University; J.D., Harvard Law School (Source: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/rodriguezjosejavier\/<\/a>)<\/p>\n Occupation: Attorney; Former Florida State Senator (2016-2020); Former Florida State Representative (2012-2016) (Source: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/rodriguezjosejavier\/<\/a>)<\/p>\n Hometown: Miami<\/p>\n Campaign website: jjr.vote<\/a><\/p>\n Candidate Q&A:<\/p>\n Why are you best suited to be the state\u2019s \u201cTop cop\u201d?<\/p>\n The candidate did not respond to this questionnaire but in order to better serve you we researched the candidates website, previous interviews, social media and other forms of publicly available information to answer the questions.<\/p>\n When it comes to allotting resources, in a press release from July 24 posted on his campaign website, Rodriguez called upon Florida to provide more state funding for protecting witnesses in serious criminal cases. Rodriguez has also questioned the cost of Alligator Alcatraz and the Hope Florida scandal .<\/p>\n Rodriguez also speaks a lot about enforcing state law and not bending to political pressure. On his website under priorities , he states that along with many other things, he would investigate the misuse of money for public education by the state and private companies, fight the sell or swap of conservation land, and root out corruption in Tallahassee.<\/p>\n (Source: https:\/\/www.jjr.vote\/media<\/a>)<\/p>\n What is your stance on Hope Florida?<\/p>\n While the candidate did not respond to this questionnaire, he has spoken about the Hope Florida controversy and what he believes to be criminal activity on the part of the current Attorney General James Uthmeier. Rodriguez, after the grand jury report was leaked, sent a letter to the DeSantis administration requesting that all documents from the Hope Florida controversy be saved and not deleted, leaving the door open for a possible lawsuit if he is elected. On a show called This Week South Florida, Rodriguez said that if elected, he would work to get the $10 million in Medicaid funding back for Floridians and families in need.<\/p>\n (Source: https:\/\/www.tampabay.com\/news\/florida-politics\/2026\/09\/03\/jose-javier-rodriguez-uthmeier-hope-florida-attorney-general-election\/<\/a> and https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/Dc4b3sbiaOK\/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&stkn=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==)<\/a><\/p>\n What is your stance on voting rights?<\/p>\n As a state senator in 2016, Rodriguez was a key figure in pushing to eliminate any financial barriers felons might face in getting their voting rights back after serving their prison sentence. According to a Florida Politics story<\/a>, he also authored several amendments which would have given felons even more rights once they could again vote.<\/p>\n On his campaign website, Rodriguez also speaks out against the mid-decade redistricting led this year by Florida Republicans, calling it blatant gerrymandering. Rodriguez, in a press release, said that under rigged maps, Floridians will be placed in districts where the outcomes are predetermined. He says that if elected, he would uphold the constitution and the Fair Districts Amendment.<\/p>\n (Source:https:\/\/www.jjr.vote\/press-releases\/statement-from-jose-javier-rodriguez-democratic-candidate-for-florida-attorney-general-blasting-florida-republicans-for-flouting-our-state-constitution-and-attempting-a-redistricting-power-grab<\/a>)<\/p>\n What is your approach to handling court challenges?<\/p>\n Rodriguez has billed himself as someone who will stand up for ordinary Floridians and not protect special interests. The candidate did not fill out the questionnaire so we cannot answer the question of how he would defend laws he does not agree with based on merit or constitutionality.<\/p>\n What is your stance on a public integrity unit?<\/p>\n The candidate did not respond to this questionnaire.<\/p>\n What is your stance on suspending state attorneys?<\/p>\n The candidate did not respond to this questionnaire and we could not find any publicly available statements he\u2019s made on this issue.<\/p>\n What is your stance on home rule?<\/p>\n In a story published by WUSF, Rodriguez released a statement saying that the current attorney general should defend local control and home rule. The statement was in response to Attorney General James Uthmeier calling for a teacher to be fired over an alleged email sent to a student warning that misogyny would not be allowed in class.<\/p>\n In another interview with WCJB TV 20,<\/a> Rodriguez said he expects to earn the nickname \u201cHome Rule Jose\u201d because if local jurisdictions are operating within the law, they should be allowed to do what they believe is best for their constituents.<\/p>\n (Source: https:\/\/www.wusf.org\/education\/2026-09-28\/at-sarasota-campaign-stop-attorney-general-says-hes-not-too-involved-in-local-teacher-case)<\/a><\/p>\n What is your stance on Tourism Development Taxes?<\/p>\n The candidate did not respond to this questionnaire and we were unable to find any publicly available statements on this issue.<\/p>\n This Voter Guide was produced by the News Collaborative of Central Florida, a collective of independent local news outlets and aligned partners working toward a more informed and engaged Central Florida. Questions for the candidates were created by members of the collaborative and shared with candidates to answer. Attempts were made to contact all candidates to answer our questions \u2013 many responded but some did not. If a candidate did not respond, we have done our best to provide answers to our questions based on candidates\u2019 websites, social media posts or public comments. For more information about the News Collaborative of Central Florida, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n