Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has indicated that he is likely to decide on who will succeed Senator Marco Rubio in the US Senate by early January. He noted that his office has already begun reviewing potential candidates.
Last week, President-elect Donald Trump formally revealed that he would nominate Rubio, a three-term senator and senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees, as his Secretary of State in the incoming administration.
Rubio is expected to step down from his Senate seat to take up the new role once the Trump administration begins on January 20, creating a vacancy approximately two months from now, DeSantis confirmed in a statement on Monday.
The Governor added that there has been significant interest from various candidates, and his team is continuing to compile names and conduct initial vetting. More thorough background checks and interviews are planned over the coming weeks, with a final choice expected by early January.
DeSantis’ statement comes amid growing calls from Trump allies to appoint Lara Trump, the President-elect’s daughter-in-law and Republican National Committee co-chair, to fill Rubio’s seat for the next two years. Supporters of this suggestion include Florida Senator Rick Scott, Senators Lindsey Graham and Katie Britt, and Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna.
While DeSantis and Trump had a tense relationship during the 2024 Republican primary season, they have since reconciled, with DeSantis endorsing Trump and assisting with fundraising for his general election campaign.
DeSantis said in his statement, “Florida deserves a Senator who will help President Trump deliver on his election mandate, be strong on immigration and border security, take on the entrenched bureaucracy and administrative state, reverse the nation’s fiscal decline, be animated by conservative principles, and has a proven record of results.”
The Governor’s comments signal that he will take his time in making a decision, despite the push for Lara Trump’s appointment. A source close to DeSantis commented that “the statement speaks for itself.”
Under Florida law, DeSantis has the authority to appoint a temporary replacement for Rubio, with the seat up for election again in 2026.
Other potential candidates for the role include DeSantis’ Chief of Staff James Uthmeier, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez, State Attorney General Ashley Moody, outgoing State House Speaker Paul Renner, and former Speaker Jose Oliva.
Frances Ibiefo
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