Secretary of State Cord Byrd says his office got a lot done in 2025.
“Looking back on 2025, I am encouraged by the many accomplishments the Florida Department of State was able to achieve for Floridians,” said Byrd. “From preparing for the America250FL celebration to maintaining our gold standard in election administration to supporting Florida businesses, our dedicated team has worked tirelessly to serve Floridians and position our state as a national leader, not only in elections, but in preserving history and heritage.”
Byrd thanks the man who appointed him, Gov. Ron DeSantis, “for supporting the Department’s mission to preserve Florida’s history and heritage, strengthen election integrity, foster a thriving business climate and enhance the quality of life for all Floridians.”
Among the most meaningful examples of that support was DeSantis picking Byrd as chair of the Florida Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial.
Additionally, Byrd’s office notes the procurement of historical statues placed in various places around the state, including Thomas Jefferson in Jefferson County, Benjamin Franklin in Franklin County and George Washington in the Florida Capitol Building.
Byrd also was invited to participate in three trade missions, including the 2025 Paris Air Show and a SelectFlorida trade mission to Taiwan.
The Secretary also led a delegation to Japan, where he represented the state as part of the Southeast U.S./Japan Association.
Beyond history and trade, Byrd again prioritized election security.
He worked with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlements (SAVE) database to clean up voter rolls. He also testified to Congress about Florida’s election reforms. And Florida’s Office of Election Crimes and Security cracked down on petition fraud related to a push to legalize marijuana.
