Gov. DeSantis taps state lawmaker as new secretary of state

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed state Republican Rep. Cord Byrd as the new secretary of state, following the resignation of Laurel M. Lee. DeSantis made the announcement in a statement Friday. Lee’s resignation was announced Thursday. News outlets have reported that Lee is leaving the post as the state’s top election official to run for Congress. The office shake-up comes months before the midterm elections. It also comes after the enactment of a law creating an office under the secretary of state tasked with investigating voter fraud, a top Republican priority. And it occurs as Florida is embroiled in a legal challenge to a new congressional map drawn by DeSantis’ staff.