Gov. Ron DeSantis taps state Rep. Cord Byrd to replace outgoing Secretary of State Laurel Lee
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida has a new secretary of state.
Gov. Ron DeSantis tapped Rep. Cord Byrd, R-Neptune Beach, Friday afternoon.
The change comes after current Secretary of State Laurel Lee announced her resignation Thursday.
In her departure letter, Lee said she would be out as of May 16, not sharing a reason for her departure.
The former Hillsborough Circuit Court judge thanked the governor for his support during her relatively short time as the state's chief election official. Lee took the job in 2019.
"I am grateful for your support throughout my tenure, and I am honored to have been part of your vision for our state," Lee wrote to DeSantis. "I will continue to seek what's best for...
