Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that he will likely choose someone to fill Senator Marco Rubio’s U.S. Senate seat by early January. This decision comes as President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Rubio to serve as Secretary of State in his upcoming administration. DeSantis mentioned that they have already started looking at potential candidates and will continue vetting them in the coming weeks.
There have been suggestions from key Trump allies, including Lara Trump, who is the Republican National Committee co-chair and the daughter-in-law of the President-elect. Some prominent figures like Senator Rick Scott, Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator Katie Britt, and Representative Anna Paulina Luna have also recommended Lara Trump for the position.
Despite the calls for Lara Trump to be appointed, Governor DeSantis emphasized the importance of taking the time to make the right decision. He stated that Florida deserves a Senator who will support President Trump’s agenda, especially on issues like immigration, border security, fiscal responsibility, and conservative principles.
According to Florida law, the Governor has the authority to appoint someone to fill the Senate seat until the next general election in 2026. Aside from Lara Trump, other names that have been mentioned as possible replacements for Rubio include James Uthmeier, who is DeSantis’s chief of staff, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, Attorney General Ashley Moody, outgoing House Speaker Paul Renner, and former House Speaker Jose Oliva.
It is clear that Governor DeSantis is taking this decision seriously and wants to ensure that the next Senator from Florida will represent the state effectively. As the vetting process continues, we can expect more updates on who will ultimately fill Rubio’s seat in the U.S. Senate.