Gov. DeSantis appoints Trump admin lawyer as chair of Elections Commission

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed Chad Mizelle, a lawyer who served under former President Donald Trump, as the new Chair of the Florida Elections Commission. Mizelle is the chief legal officer of Affinity Partners, a global investment firm founded by Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. DeSantis also reappointed two members to the Commission, one of whom donated $50,000 to a super PAC supporting DeSantis' presidential campaign. The appointments are subject to Senate approval.

Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida has made significant appointments to the Florida Elections Commission, including naming Chad Mizelle as the new Chair. Mizelle, a South Florida lawyer who previously served in various federal roles under former President Donald Trump, now holds the top-ranking position on the nine-seat panel responsible for upholding the state's election laws.

Mizelle brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having served as the chief legal officer of Affinity Partners, a global investment firm based in Miami and founded by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. During his time in the Trump administration, Mizelle held several important positions, including acting chief of staff and general counsel of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, associate counsel to the President, and counsel to the Deputy Attorney General.

In addition to his new role as Chair of the Florida Elections Commission, Mizelle also serves as a Commissioner on the 13th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission, a position he was appointed to by Governor DeSantis in September 2021.

Governor DeSantis also reappointed two members to the Commission whose terms had expired nearly three years ago. One of these members made a substantial donation of $50,000 to a super PAC supporting DeSantis' presidential campaign just three months ago.

J. Martin Hayes and Kymberlee Curry Smith, the two reappointed members, had technically termed out at the end of 2020, according to the Commission's website. Hayes, a motor vehicle litigator based in Fort Lauderdale, is a partner at the legal firm Akerman LLP and a member of the National Association of Dealer Counsel. Smith, on the other hand, is an attorney for the Fort Lauderdale Code Enforcement Board and previously worked as a contract attorney for the city of North Miami.

It is worth noting that all appointments made by Governor DeSantis are subject to Senate approval. While the Florida Division of Elections does not show any donations from these reappointed members to DeSantis, it does reveal a $250 donation made by one of them to Lake Mary Republican Rep. Rachel Plakon, who has endorsed DeSantis' run for the White House.

The appointments made by Governor DeSantis to the Florida Elections Commission highlight the importance he places on upholding the state's election laws. With Mizelle at the helm, the Commission is poised to play a crucial role in ensuring fair and transparent elections in the Sunshine State.