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During a press conference Thursday morning, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his choice to replace outgoing Republican Sen. Marco Rubio.
Rubio, 53, has been nominated to serve as U.S. Secretary of State by President-elect Donald Trump, and is expected to be easily confirmed. He has served in the Senate since 2011.
In announcing who he will appoint to fill Rubio’s seat, DeSantis said, “I wanted someone with a record of delivering results.”
DeSantis said he has selected Florida state Attorney General Ashley Moody to fill Rubio’s seat.
CBS News explained:
Senate vacancies in Florida are filled by an appointment by the governor, who selects a replacement to serve until the next statewide election. DeSantis’ appointment means Moody will be expected to hold the seat until a special election can be held in 2026. The winner of the 2026 election would serve the remainder of Rubio’s term, meaning that person would have to run for election again in 2028.
Moody, 49, has served as Florida State Attorney General since January 2019. Prior to that, she was a judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida from 2007 to 2017.
Moody is a staunch conservative and supporter of Trump. DeSantis noted that she has fought back against former special counsel Jack Smith’s politically-motivated persecution of Trump, and has filed more than a dozen lawsuits against Joe Biden’s border policies.
“She’s demanded the impeachment of Mayorkas and the designation of Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations,” DeSantis said.
🚨 RON DESANTIS ON SENATE APPOINTMENT: “[Next Senator Ashley Moody] took on Jack Smith for his politically motivated persecution of Trump. Fought back against the rogue Attorney General of New York. Led the investigation into the second assas*ination attempt in Palm Beach.”
“She… pic.twitter.com/KSlgjQI8i1
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 16, 2025
Accepting the nomination, Moody’s enthusiasm was contagious.
“I probably won’t like being in D.C. But I am ready to show up and fight for this nation and fight for Trump and his agenda. What has angered me the most as attorney general is unelected bureaucrats and international organizations trying to take away the will of the people. We will not stand for that and we will return this country to the people,” she said.
🚨 NEXT SENATOR FROM FLORIDA, ASHLEY MOODY: I probably won’t like being in D.C. But I am ready to show up and fight for this nation and fight for Trump and his agenda. What has angered me the most as attorney general is unelected bureaucrats and international organizations trying… pic.twitter.com/Y4xF2UJxuQ
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 16, 2025
🚨 #BREAKING: Governor Ron DeSantis names ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHLEY MOODY as the next U.S. Senator from Florida.
Moody is a staunch Trump ally who has filed multiple suits in defense of Trump and is currently working to hold accountable the Palm Beach would-be assa*sin.
Moody has… pic.twitter.com/oodEa8RQCX
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 16, 2025
DeSantis spokesperson Christina Pushaw wrote, “Big news: Governor DeSantis just announced that Florida’s next U.S. Senator will be our great Attorney General, fifth-generation Floridian, happy warrior against illegal immigration, drug dealers and trafficking, steadfast supporter of law enforcement… ASHLEY MOODY 👏 👏 👏.”
🚨 Big news: Governor DeSantis just announced that Florida’s next U.S. Senator will be our great Attorney General, fifth-generation Floridian, happy warrior against illegal immigration, drug dealers and trafficking, steadfast supporter of law enforcement… ASHLEY MOODY 👏 👏 👏 pic.twitter.com/qglNADr8SV
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) January 16, 2025
This is a developing story. Check back for updates…
Governor Ron DeSantis Makes an Announcement in Orlando https://t.co/7dNbFdoiau
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 16, 2025
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