Selecting Trump’s Vice President Could Give Anti-MAGA Governor a Senate Seat

Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, is contemplating potential running mates, which could result in a Senate selection being made by a Republican governor. If Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is chosen, then Gov. Ron DeSantis would pick his replacement. Alternatively, if Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, is selected, Gov. Mike DeWine would appoint the new senator.

DeSantis and DeWine have had past disagreements with Trump, leading to speculation that their appointments may not align with the standards of Trump’s MAGA movement.

Although DeSantis and Trump recently met to reconcile after a contentious primary, trust issues still exist between them, causing Trump’s camp to exercise caution in their decisions.

In Ohio, Trump has criticized DeWine as a RINO and actively campaigned against the governor’s preferred candidate in the recent Senate primary. Despite this, DeWine remains unfazed by Trump’s opinions and is focused on his final term in office.

Regardless of the selection, any appointment made by DeSantis or DeWine would be temporary until the next statewide election.

There may be a way to limit DeSantis’ influence, as described by a Trump confidant, through a hypothetical scenario where Rubio resigns from the Senate, triggering a special election for the seat. This would allow DeSantis to appoint someone only until the special election takes place.

Rubio is perceived to have potential as a vice president candidate due to his ability to communicate MAGA principles in Spanish, according to a source familiar with Trump’s discussions.

Trump’s vice president selection process has been kept confidential, and potential candidates have not yet received vetting questionnaires.

The former president intends to make a decision closer to the Republican National Convention in July.