President-elect Trump is set to nominate Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R) to be Secretary of State, and the impending vacancy in the Senate has already sparked speculation about who will take his place. There is.
If President Trump moves forward with the nomination of Rubio to be the United States' top envoy, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) will be tasked with appointing Rubio's successor in the Senate. A special election for the seat will then be held in 2026. A number of names have already been mentioned, including Mr. DeSantis' chief of staff, the state's lieutenant governor, the state's attorney general and even Florida's first lady, Casey DeSantis.
A move to replace Mr. Rubio could have a knock-on effect in state politics, as Mr. DeSantis and other Republicans are mindful of their own political futures.
“Honestly, I don't see why Mr. DeSantis, especially Ron DeSantis, would not be involved in succession planning,” said one Republican strategist.
On Tuesday, the Capitol was buzzing with names. Alabama Sen. Katie Britt (R) has floated Lara Trump, President Trump's daughter-in-law and co-chair of the Republican National Committee, for the position.
Sources told The Hill that James Usmayer, a close aide to Mr. DeSantis, is being considered for the position. Other candidates include Lt. Gov. Janet Nunez and State Attorney General Ashley Moody.
The person added that President-elect Trump may nominate his daughter-in-law for the position.
One of the big questions surrounding DeSantis is what he plans to do next after his term as governor ends in 2026. Although he was unable to secure the Republican presidential nomination this term, the 46-year-old governor is still considered a rising star within the party. Republican Party. A second run for president is not out of the question, and Republican strategists have argued that the Senate could be viewed as a launching pad for Mr. DeSantis.
“You have to have a perch,” the strategist said. “Remember, people forget about you quickly.”
“What, are you going to leave the governor's mansion and run for president?” the strategist added. “How are you going to breathe oxygen? It's the day after midterms, so what's going to happen? Everyone starts running for president.”
Sources who spoke with The Hill believe the governor will name his own chief of staff to replace him by 2026.
If Mr. DeSantis appoints Mr. Usmayer, Mr. DeSantis will have a strong ally in the seat until a special election is held in 2026. DeSantis could theoretically serve his full term that year.
A scenario in which Mr. DeSantis is appointed to the Senate is also possible. To do so, he must resign as governor and appoint Nuñez to the governor's office. Nine former governors have followed this path, including former Minnesota Gov. Wendell Anderson (D), who replaced former Vice President Walter Mondale in the Senate in 1976.
If DeSantis goes down that path, it could be a risky move. Of the nine governors who effectively appointed senators, only one won subsequent elections.
Some argue that Mr. DeSantis does not need to be a senator to run for president in 2028, noting that the next presidential election will begin immediately after the 2026 midterm elections. Mr. DeSantis will run for president in May 2023, and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley began her candidacy in February 2023.
Additionally, DeSantis will likely want to emphasize his executive role as Florida's governor.
However, since President Trump only has one more term in office, it is unclear how the 2028 Republican primary, in which Vice President-elect J.D. Vance will be his successor, will play out.
“Honestly, J.D. Vance may be the first Republican vice president since George H.W. Bush to actually have a chance of knowing where things are going,” said the Republican strategist.
Other Republicans have poured cold water on the idea that a potential presidential run for Mr. Vance would prevent others, such as Mr. DeSantis, from running for office themselves in 2028.
The speculation comes as Florida has played a central role in President Trump's second presidential transition after major Republican gains in 2022 and 2024. In addition to Rubio, who is expected to be nominated for secretary of state, President Trump has also nominated Florida congressman Mike Walz (R) to serve as national security adviser.
Additionally, President Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach has become the center of the transition, with Susie Wiles, a veteran Florida political operative and incoming White House chief of staff, at the helm. Meanwhile, Rubio's colleague, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida), has begun his own bid for Senate Majority Leader with the support of many Trump supporters, including Elon Musk. are.
“The only thing we don’t have is a Speaker of the House from Florida,” a Republican strategist quipped.
