Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed the state’s attorney general, Ashley Moody, to replace Sen. Marco Rubio when he becomes President Trump’s secretary of state.

DeSantis made the announcement at a press conference in Orlando on Thursday morning.

Governor Ron DeSantis Makes an Announcement in Orlando https://t.co/7dNbFdoiau

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 16, 2025

Per Axios:

Picking Moody for Senate clears the way for DeSantis to name his chief of staff, James Uthmeier, to replace her as AG, according to the source who said that “it was always Ashley. And James is the obvious pick to replace her.”

Rep. Byron Donalds is already filling out a political team to run for governor in 2026.

If Moody decides to run for reelection for her newly appointed Senate seat, she is on a crash course with Rep. Cory Mills, who announced recently that he would run for Rubio’s seat.

The office of attorney general also comes open in 2026.

🚨 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

WATCH:

BREAKING: Governor Ron DeSantis has selected Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody as Marco Rubio's Senate replacement.

She has been involved in almost every case against the Biden regime in the last four years.

I think this is a great pick. pic.twitter.com/T5BOE9JmgO

— George (@BehizyTweets) January 16, 2025

🚨Breaking News: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis plans to pick Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to replace Rubio in the Senate

Via: Axios pic.twitter.com/HunZpm5hXg

— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) January 16, 2025

From the New York Post:

The governor said he wanted to choose a replacement who will back Trump’s hardline immigration agenda and “cut spending.”

DeSantis added Wednesday that he didn’t make the announcement sooner because he didn’t want the media to make his choice a “piñata” and attack them for months before Rubio is sworn in.

Moody will have to go through a special election in November 2026 to complete the remainder of Rubio’s term. If she chooses, she will then be up for election to a full six-year term in 2028.

DeSantis met with Trump several times in recent weeks, going golfing with him and meeting with him at a governor’s dinner at Mar-a-Lago.

The two have been repairing rifts in their relationship following the 2024 GOP primaries, and have been warm with each other in recent months.

Watch the full press conference: