DeSantis announces Senate run after Rubio’s expected resignation

Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., revealed Thursday who he plans to appoint to the Senate when Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., steps down as he is expected to be confirmed as President-elect Donald Trump’s secretary of state after his insertion.

The governor chose Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to be the next senator.

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Florida AG Ashley Moody and Governor Ron DeSantis at a public event. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Moody has been a key ally of DeSantis in the state, working with him to facilitate his agenda as governor.

During his announcement Thursday, DeSantis said, “So it’s something I thought long and hard about. We did a lot of research. We got a number of good candidates throughout the state of Florida, and a lot of them, I think, could have done well piece of work But the last criteria I used was that you can say all those things and say you stand for it – I wanted someone who could document delivering results on the important subjects.

“We need people who have demonstrated fidelity to these principles by their actions. So that’s why today I’m proud to announce that I’m selecting our Attorney General, Ashley Moody, to serve as our next United States Senator ,” he told the attendees.

Moody accepted the challenge and thanked the governor for choosing her. “Thank you so much. I will bring the same tenacity and passion and tenacity as a United States senator that I have brought as Florida’s attorney general,” she said.

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Moody was elected to be the next senator in Florida. (Florida Governor’s Office)

“If you’ve worked with me and fought with me over the last six years, you know I don’t think of it as a job. I think of it as a calling,” she explained.

When asked about potentially taking on the role on “Fox and Friends First” in November, Moody previously said, “I have my hands full here as attorney general, and I’m incredibly focused on this job, working on behalf of Floridians, making sure that I’m protecting the state’s autonomy and pushing Washington out of our business and holding them accountable. Of course, I love being in leadership, working with President Trump, working with Governor DeSantis. And I hope to continue to work on on behalf of Floridians.

Initially, Trump and Sens. Katie Britt, R-Ala., and Rick Scott, R-Fla., endorsed Trump’s daughter-in-law and former RNC co-chair Lara Trump to succeed Rubio. However, she later withdrew her name from consideration.

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Lara Trump was the RNC co-chair during the 2024 election. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

“After an incredible amount of thought, contemplation and encouragement from so many, I have decided to remove my name from consideration for the United States Senate,” she wrote on X.

After Thursday’s announcement, Scott Moody congratulated X. “I welcome @AGAshleyMoody to the US Senate! Ashley has done an incredible job fighting for Floridians and keeping our communities safe as Attorney General. I have no doubt that she will do an incredible job as a senator!” he said.

Rubio is likely to be confirmed as Secretary of State. (REUTERS/Mike Segar)

DeSantis added Thursday that he expects to nominate Moody to the Senate on the afternoon of Jan. 20 after Trump is sworn in.

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“We expect Senator Rubio to be confirmed very soon after the inauguration of the 47th president, President Trump,” he said.

He further thanked Rubio for his service as a senator. “I want to thank Senator Rubio for his service in the United States Senate. I think he will serve the country well as Secretary of State, and we need that because the last four years have been a total disaster under Biden-Harris. administration,” the governor said.