Walton County's 'grim reaper' Daniel Uhlfelder qualifies to run for attorney general

TALLAHASSEE — Daniel Uhlfelder, who during the summer of 2020 stalked area beaches dressed as the Grim Reaper to protest the state's decision to open its beaches in the midst of a pandemic, has officially qualified to run for Florida's attorney general.

Uhlfelder will face fellow Democrats Ayala Aramis and Jim Lewis in a statewide Aug. 23 primary, with the winner moving on to a Nov. 8 contest against Republican incumbent Ashley Moody.

An attorney for 25 years, Uhlfelder attended college at Stanford and the University of  Florida. In a news release sent out after qualifying Thursday, he said as attorney general he will work to strengthen voting rights, consumer rights and fundamental human rights.

"Uhlfelder is bringing the fighting spirit he has carried his whole life, ready to go to bat for Florida families every day as attorney general," the release said.

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He promised to clamp down on corruption in Tallahassee and battle corporations like Florida Power & Light "who are making Florida an unaffordable place to live."

Never one to shy from controversy, Uhlfelder has taken on the Walton County Commission when it declined to remove a Confederate flag from its courthouse lawn and confronted former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and other wealthy property owners when they put no trespassing signs on the beaches behind their homes.

He became the subject of two investigations after he sued Gov. Ron DeSantis for refusing to shut down state beaches amid the COVID-19 pandemic and donned the black robes of the Grim Reaper to bring attention to his cause.

"In recent years, Uhlfelder has garnered significant state and national media attention for his fights to hold power accountable in Florida," his news release said. One of his campaign pledges is that as attorney general he will be "Ron DeSantis' worst nightmare."

His campaign reflects his popularity. The nearly $105,000 he's raised is the most among the Democratic candidates for the attorney general's seat, and the nearly 2,000 individual donations he's received have come from all over the country — most in denominations less than $100.

Ayala, who has banked $74,000 in her race for the Democratic nomination, was the first African American state attorney in Florida. She has also rankled Republican leaders, particularly when she announced she would not seek the death penalty against Markeith Loyd, who was convicted of killing Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton.

Lewis, a Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney, has raised almost $6,000 for his campaign.

Moody, who is seeking her second and final term in office, has raised $1.1 million.

“We need to nominate a Democrat with the right message — who is actually building the campaign infrastructure necessary to win," Uhlfelder said. "I’m not a typical Democrat. I’m a small business owner and North Florida lawyer who has had enough of corrupt politicians and greedy corporations taking advantage of our families. Our campaign is taking them on, and as attorney general I will be relentless in the pursuit of justice and accountability. That’s what Florida families deserve.”

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Florida attorney general race: Daniel Uhlfelder qualifies to run