washington — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody will replace Marco RubioPresident-elect Donald Trump selects secretary of state in Senate.
"Today, I am proud to announce my selection of our Attorney General Ashley Moody to be our next U.S. Senator," DeSantis said at a news conference in Orlando. He "honorably served our people" as governor of the state. Top law enforcement official.
"These appointments are always important, but I think appointments like this now are more important than ever," DeSantis said. "This is a time for action and a time for Washington, D.C., to get results for the American people."
DeSantis called Trump's victory in the 2024 election "extraordinary" and said he had won a "mandate for change."
DeSantis added: "It is no longer business as usual in Washington, D.C."
Florida's governor emphasized border security as part of that mission and said Florida would work with the Trump administration to ensure immigration laws are enforced.
DeSantis outlined his criteria for Senate appointments on Thursday, saying he wants someone who can implement Trump's agenda, be committed to spending cuts, understand the federal bureaucracy is "out of control" and understand "the fight against illegal immigration."
Moody, 49, has served as Florida's attorney general since 2019 and has supported the policies of DeSantis and Trump.
Florida Senate vacancies are filled by appointment by the governor, who selects a replacement to serve until the next statewide election. DeSantis' appointment means Moody is expected to keep the seat until a special election in 2026. The winner of the 2026 election will serve out the remainder of Rubio's term, meaning that person must run again in 2028.
The news follows months of speculation about who could fill the seat. DeSantis has several appointee possibilities, including Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, who until recently served as co-chair of the Republican National Committee. Last month, she explain She is excluding herself from consideration.
DeSantis' chief of staff James Uthmeier and Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez also joined the meeting, as did former Florida House Speaker Jose Olivia was nominated.
The Florida governor said shortly after Rubio was elected that "several potential candidates have expressed strong interest," noting that his office would conduct an extensive review and candidate interviews.
"Florida deserves a Senator who will help President Trump fulfill his election mandate, take strong action on immigration and border security, confront an entrenched bureaucracy and the administrative state, reverse the state's fiscal decline, and be powered by conservative principles , and has a proven track record of results," DeSantis said in a post on X.
Trump in November appointed Rubio, who has represented Florida in the Senate since 2011, to the Cabinet position. The 53-year-old China hawk has extensive foreign policy experience and is expected to have one of the smoothest paths to Senate confirmation. He attended a confirmation hearing this week and is expected to resign from the Senate when Trump is sworn in next week.