JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Senator Marco Rubio’s nomination as Secretary of State in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration has launched widespread speculation about who might fill his Senate seat if the nomination is confirmed.
Gov. Ron DeSantis faces the critical task of appointing a successor, a decision that could shape Florida’s political future for years.
Recommended Videos
DeSantis likely will select a successor by the start of 2025, DeSantis said in an online post Monday.
Back from a business-development mission last week to Italy, DeSantis posted on X that he’s started vetting potential candidates to replace Rubio, who was formally tapped Wednesday by President-elect Donald Trump for the Cabinet post.
Without providing names, DeSantis said he’s “already received strong interest from several possible candidates.” He said Rubio is expected to resign from the Senate to assume the duties of secretary of state when Trump takes office Jan. 20.
“More extensive vetting and candidate interviews will be conducted over the next few weeks, with a selection likely made by the beginning of January,” DeSantis said in the post. “Florida deserves a senator who will help President Trump deliver on his election mandate, be strong on immigration and border security, take on the entrenched bureaucracy and administrative state, reverse the nation’s fiscal decline, be animated by conservative principles, and has a proven record of results.”
News4JAX reported earlier this month that the person appointed to fill the Senate vacancy would not face an election until 2026. At that point, the seat would be up for election as part of the 2026 cycle, with the winner serving the remaining two years of Rubio’s term. The appointee could choose to run, but other candidates would also have the opportunity to enter the race.
Several prominent figures have emerged as potential appointees. Names frequently mentioned include Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez, Attorney General Ashley Moody, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Jose Olive, and DeSantis’ Chief of Staff James Uthmeier, who is rumored to be eyeing the congressional seat recently vacated by Matt Gaetz.
“There’s a number of people being talked about,” said Michael Binder, Director of the Public Opinion Research Lab at the University of North Florida.
A key question is whether DeSantis will prioritize a Trump-aligned candidate or select someone closer to his political circle. Binder suggested DeSantis may lean toward a trusted confidant.
“It makes sense to appoint someone that has always been in his corner,” Binder said, adding that even appointing someone like [Trump’s daughter-in-law] Lara Trump might not resolve tensions between DeSantis and the president-elect. “He’s never going to win over Donald Trump. He’s always going to be on the out.”
According to The Hill, Florida Sen. Rick Scott (R) said he hopes DeSantis picks Trump’s daughter-in-law, who is currently the Republican National Committee co-chair, and other Republican leaders have backed the idea.
RELATED: As Trump picks Florida men for top jobs, new political possibilities open up in the Sunshine State
Some speculate DeSantis might choose a temporary placeholder to keep options open for the 2026 election. However, Binder dismissed this as unlikely.
“If you appoint somebody for two years, the expectation is they’re probably going to run again at the end of that term in 2026 and then again in 2028,” said Binder.
According to Binder, rumors that DeSantis might seek the Senate seat after his gubernatorial term ends in 2026 also seem far-fetched.
“Ron DeSantis is going to be spending a lot more time in Iowa again. I fully envision him running for President again in 2028,” Binder said.
The final decision may not come until Rubio’s resignation is imminent. Until then, speculation will dominate Florida’s political scene as observers await the choice that will shape the state’s representation in the U.S. Senate.
