DeSantis Plans to Make Decision on Rubio Senate Replacement at Beginning of January
The senator from Florida was selected by President-elect Donald Trump to be his secretary of state.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed on Monday that vetting is underway for the replacement of outgoing Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who was chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as his secretary of state.
Trump recently appointed Rubio, a former rival in the 2016 GOP primaries, to lead the Department of State. This means that DeSantis must now find a replacement to fulfill Rubio’s Senate term, which expires in 2028.
“We have already received strong interest from several potential candidates, and we are gathering more names for preliminary vetting,” stated the governor. “Further vetting and candidate interviews will be conducted over the next few weeks, with a decision likely by early January.”
DeSantis did not disclose any specific names or details regarding potential candidates to replace Rubio.
However, he emphasized the importance of Florida having a senator who aligns with Trump’s priorities, such as immigration reform, border security, fiscal responsibility, conservative values, and a track record of success.
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There is speculation that Lara Trump, the president-elect’s daughter-in-law and RNC co-chair, could be chosen by DeSantis.
Various Florida lawmakers like Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Rep. Anna Paulina Lune (R-Fla.) have publicly supported Lara Trump as Rubio’s replacement, along with Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) in endorsing the president-elect’s daughter-in-law.
When asked if she would accept the opportunity, she replied, “If I am chosen to serve in another capacity, it would be an honor.”
“I believe it would be beneficial to have another young mother, like Katie Britt, in the United States Senate. While I have not been approached yet, I would strongly consider it if the opportunity arises,” she added.
Other potential replacements for Rubio mentioned in media reports include Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, and DeSantis’ chief of staff James Uthmeier. However, no official statements have been made by DeSantis or these officials regarding these speculations.
Aside from Rubio, other Florida lawmakers have been selected to join the incoming administration. Trump’s home state is Florida.
Recently, Trump appointed Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who resigned from Congress after his appointment, to serve as attorney general. Prior to that, he announced Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) as his national security adviser. Both Gaetz and Waltz represent districts that typically lean Republican.
At 53, Rubio has been vocal about his criticism of the Chinese Communist Party and Cuba’s communist regime. As a Cuban American, he has advocated for a robust foreign policy targeting America’s adversaries. In response, the Chinese regime imposed sanctions on Rubio in 2020 due to his support for Hong Kong’s democracy movement.
