Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday responded to calls for Republican National Committee co-chairman Lara Trump to appoint whoever he chooses to replace Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida). , announced that candidates must have a “proven track record.” Take your seat.
“Florida has the power to help President Trump fulfill his electoral mandate, to be strong on immigration and border security, to fight entrenched bureaucracies and the administrative state, to reverse national fiscal decline, and to support conservative principles.” “We deserve a senator with a proven track record who is motivated by the United States.”The results were great,” DeSantis, 46, wrote. Statement regarding X.
President-elect Donald Trump nominated Rubio to be secretary of state last week. Mr. Rubio, 53, is expected to advance to confirmation and is likely to resign from the Senate before Mr. Trump, 78, is sworn in on January 20.
Under Florida law, Mr. DeSantis will select Mr. Rubio's successor to fill the seat until a special election is held in 2026. The winner of that race will complete Rubio's term before running for office again in 2028.
The decision could either reignite or bury a feud that erupted between DeSantis and the 45th president during the Republican primary.
The governor is now under pressure to appoint Lara Trump, the former and future wife of his eldest son Eric Trump, although relations have been thawing in the months since Trump's victory.
Among those who supported Lara Trump to fill Rubio's seat were Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Sen. Katie Britt. (R-Ala.), as well as Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) — although Trump himself has been conspicuously silent on the issue.
Other names being floated to fill the vacancy include James Usmayer, DeSantis' current chief of staff and former general counsel, and Janet Usmayer, who will be the first Latino to represent the Sunshine State in the Senate. Lieutenant Governor Nuñez and others.
Lara Trump, 42, said Thursday that she would “seriously consider” accepting the appointment if offered, but added that she had not yet spoken to DeSantis.
“If this is what is asked of me, I would seriously consider it, but I haven't heard from Governor DeSantis yet. So we'll see what happens,” she told Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo.
DeSantis said in a statement that he has already received “strong interest from several potential candidates” and continues to interview and vet candidates.
“Further extensive screening and candidate interviews will occur in the coming weeks, with a selection likely to be made by early January,” the Florida governor said.
