Ron DeSantis reveals when he will pick a new senator from Florida as Lara Trump and other names emerged
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis shared new insight into his ideas about replacing Republican Senator Marco Rubio in the Senate after he was nominated for Secretary of State.
President-elect Trump officially named the Florida senator last week his choice for top diplomat as she prepares for a second term next year.
Rubio’s choice for the job has been praised by senators on both sides of the aisle and his nomination is likely to gain bipartisan support in the Senate once Trump resumes office in January.
The move would leave an open Senate seat in Florida, with a slate of potential candidates put forward to represent the Sunshine State.
“We have already received strong interest from several possible candidates, and we continue to gather names of additional candidates and conduct preliminary investigations,” DeSantis wrote on X on Monday.
The GOP governor wrote that more extensive screenings and candidate interviews will take place in the coming weeks.
He said the final selection will likely take place in early January.
Governor Ron DeSantis shared his timeline and process for appointing Senator Marco Rubio’s replacement once the senator steps down to serve as Secretary of State
“Florida deserves a senator who will help President Trump deliver on his electoral mandate, be strong on immigration and border security, take on the entrenched bureaucracy and administrative state, reverse the nation’s budget decline, inspire is guided by conservative principles and has a proven track record. of results,” DeSantis wrote.
One person who has indicated interest in the job is Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump, who currently serves as co-chair of the Republican National Committee.
In an interview with the Fox Business Network last week, Trump was asked whether she would consider replacing Rubio. She said she was “humbled and honored” to be named.
Senator Marco Rubio has been named Trump’s presidential nominee for secretary of state
‘I would like to go further and do more. “If this is something that is asked of me, I would seriously consider it,” Trump said.
The 42-year-old argued that her experience at the RNC showed that she “serves the American people” and that it would be a “great honor and responsibility.”
Some of the president-elect’s biggest supporters, including Elon Musk, have supported Lara Trump’s nomination.
Florida Sen. Rick Scott, who just lost his bid for Senate majority leader, also made a move Monday to endorse Lara Trump.
Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump said she would be “honored” as a Florida senator
Several other names of potential Rubio replacements have been floated, including the state’s attorney general, Lt. governor and former Speaker of the House of Representatives
Other names that have emerged include Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and the state’s lieutenant governor Jeanette Nuñez, who are also strong supporters of the newly elected president. Former Florida House Speaker Jose Olivia also came up.
Rubio has represented Florida in the Senate since 2011, after serving as speaker of the Florida House.
He was most recently re-elected to the Senate by double digits in the 2022 midterm elections.
In his nomination announcement, Trump called Rubio “a highly respected leader and a very powerful voice for freedom.
He also called Rubio a “fearless warrior who will never back down from our adversaries.”
Whoever is appointed to fill Rubio’s seat would have to win a special election in 2026 to complete Rubio’s term before he can seek re-election again in 2028.