The political chessboard in Florida is heating up as Governor Ron DeSantis starts the process to replace U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, who’s expected to resign in January to become President Trump’s new Secretary of State. DeSantis shared an update on X (formerly known as Twitter), where he said that a “search is actively underway” to find Rubio’s replacement, anticipating a vacancy on January 20, the day of Trump’s inauguration.
It’s no small task, considering Florida hasn’t seen a new U.S. Senator since 2019, when Rick Scott moved from the governor’s mansion to fill a seat left open by Bill Nelson. Rubio, who’s been the senior senator since 2010, was chosen as part of Trump’s new administration—a significant shift for someone who was once a fierce Trump critic during the 2016 primaries. But politics makes for strange bedfellows, and here we are.
DeSantis outlined his plan on X, saying that his team has already received strong interest from several candidates and that vetting is well underway. He expects a decision by early January, just in time for the transition. “Florida deserves a Senator who will help President Trump deliver on his election mandate,” DeSantis said, emphasizing the need for a conservative fighter who’s strong on immigration and border security. He also took a jab at D.C.’s “entrenched bureaucracy,” making it clear that he wants someone who’s ready to drain the swamp—classic Trump-DeSantis rhetoric.
Senator Marco Rubio is expected to resign from the Senate to assume duties as Secretary of State when the Trump administration takes power on January 20th, creating a vacancy roughly two months from today.
We have already received strong interest from several possible…
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) November 18, 2024
Of course, the process of picking a replacement is fraught with political landmines. DeSantis has the authority to appoint a temporary replacement under Florida law, and in theory, he could even nominate himself if he wanted to—although that seems unlikely given his recent comments. He told reporters he’s not eyeing a position in the Trump administration, saying, “I’ve got a great job in the state of Florida. … I think me quarterbacking the Sunshine State is probably how I make the biggest difference.”
It’s a sharp contrast to the mess Illinois found itself in back in 2009 when then-Governor Rod Blagojevich was caught trying to sell Barack Obama’s Senate seat. Blagojevich ended up behind bars for eight years after his scheme was exposed. DeSantis will be keen to avoid even a whiff of scandal in his decision-making process.
And let’s not overlook the broader political picture. DeSantis, who once had a contentious relationship with Trump, has been quick to align himself with the incoming administration, praising Trump’s “sweeping electoral victory” and the “mandate for change” that came with it. It’s clear DeSantis is aiming to play a significant role in the GOP’s new era, even if that means he’s staying put in Florida for now.
The question remains: who will step up to fill Rubio’s shoes? With DeSantis at the helm of the selection process, it’s almost guaranteed that whoever he picks will be a staunch conservative ready to support Trump’s agenda from day one. Stay tuned—this is just the beginning of what’s shaping up to be a high-stakes game of political maneuvering in the Sunshine State.
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