Washington, D.C., is a hive of activity with confirmation hearings for Donald Trump picks to head various agencies overlapping each other. One of those involves Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), tabbed to serve as Trump’s secretary of state, and his expected breezing through the confirmation process leaves an opening in the Senate. Many have been keeping an eye on the Sunshine State to see where Governor Ron DeSantis might turn as he is charged with filling that vacancy.
The governor has said he intended to hold back on announcing a choice from the time Rubio had been tabbed by Trump in order to avoid his pick being thrown into the media meat grinder – “where they’re just a pinata,” as he described – but making the call just ahead of the inaugural. He has indicated to some members of Congress that he was not looking to pull a name from the House due to the slim margin the GOP holds in that chamber.
This was in line with DeSantis voicing his desire to place someone who would be key to forwarding Trump’s agenda. A number of names had been short-listed as potential picks by DeSantis. Those have included his Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez, DeSantis Chief of Staff James Uthmeier, and former Florida House Speaker José Oliva. But this morning, DeSantis made the formal announcement that the name considered the favorite all along was his choice.
Current Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is the selection to take the Senate position. Moody, like her predecessor Pam Bondi, has been looked at favorably in the state, a twice elected Attorney General who increased her support in her reelection bid, earning 60 percent voter support. In her speech after the announcement, she cited the relationship with the governor and joked that DeSantis chided her, saying that as a former member of Congress, he was not sure why she’d want the job.
Moody has been reflective of the strengthening of the Republican hold in Florida, battling many DeSantis agenda items in court, and she fills the governor’s goal of picking a figure who will keep that effort moving in D.C. Moody may have surprised some in that she is also a trained accountant and mentioned that when in the Senate she is eager to work with DOGE and shrinking the federal budget.
To get a sense of the conservative foundation of Moody, you need only to see the coverage from the Associated Press as they promptly highlighted the caseload that the news syndicate disapproved of, noting she battled on behalf of Trump’s 2020 vote challenge and lost in the attempt to keep an abortion amendment off of the Florida ballot. But Moody has also opposed the Biden administration on a number of issues, such as vaccine mandates; she also fought for tougher immigration laws, and battled the student loan forgiveness push.
There is now little concern over whether Marco Rubio’s successor will be a firm conservative replacement. Governor DeSantis plucked a solid leader from the now solidly conservative state.
