| Cord Byrd | |
| Office: | 31st Secretary of State of Florida |
| Governor: | Ron DeSantis |
| Term Start: | May 16, 2022 |
| Predecessor: | Laurel Lee |
| State House1: | Florida |
| District1: | 11th |
| Term Start1: | November 8, 2016 |
| Term End1: | May 16, 2022 |
| Predecessor1: | Janet H. Adkins |
| Successor1: | Sam Garrison |
| Birth Date: | 19 April 1971 |
| Birth Place: | Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Party: | Republican |
| Education: | United States Air Force Academy University of North Florida (BA) St. Thomas University (JD) |
James Cord Byrd (born April 19, 1971) is an American attorney and Republican politician serving as the secretary of state of Florida.[1] Previously, he was a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing Nassau County and part of Duval County from 2016 until his appointment as secretary of state.[2] [3] [4]
Byrd was born in Jacksonville, Florida. He attended the United States Air Force Academy for one year before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and government from the University of North Florida. In 1997, he earned a Juris Doctor from the St. Thomas University School of Law.[5]
Byrd worked as an attorney at Leal & Ring, P.A from 1997 to 2004 and Gonzalez & Porcher from 2004 to 2007. Since 2007, he has operated an independent legal practice.[6] Byrd was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2016. During his tenure, Byrd served as vice chair of the Public Integrity & Elections Committee during the 2019–2020 legislative session and vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee, in the 2021–2022 legislative session.[7]
In 2019, Byrd sponsored a bill banning sanctuary cities in Florida. In April of that year the Florida House passed the bill with 69–47 nearly along party lines.[8] [9]
In May 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis selected Byrd to succeed Laurel Lee as secretary of state of Florida.[10]
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