Ron DeSantis Rules Out Several Trump Allies to Replace Marco Rubio

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he will name the replacement of Marco Rubio to the U.S. Senate "very soon" as the latter gears up to become President-elect Donald Trump's Secretary of State.

DeSantis anticipated he will have "somebody ready to go" when Rubio resigns from his post after Trump's inauguration next week. And while he continued refusing to provide further details on the pick, he anticipated it likely won't be a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, as pulling someone from there could further complicate the GOP's strategy given its slim majority.

"I've been honest with the congresspeople, that's a big concern of mine, because one of the criteria I had with who I'm going to appoint is, we just had an election. President has a mandate. I want you to help facilitate that. I don't want you to be sand in the gears," DeSantis said during an address from the Florida Capitol.

But if you put someone there, and then it reduces the numbers in the House, and they make it harder for them to be able to enact an agenda," he added.

The statement basically rules out a series of MAGA allies whose names had been floated as potential picks, including Rep. Brian Mast and Rep. Cory Mills. Other prominent allies are Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and Rep. Byron Donalds.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is reportedly the top pick for the post. Outlet Floridian Press quoted anonymous sources in Tallahassee back in mid-December saying she tops the list. The Washington Post also reported on her being first in line on Monday. Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez and Florida Chief of Staff James Uthmeier are other names in consideration.

Moody, a vocal defender of DeSantis and his policies has not spoken publicly about the possibility. Whoever ends up being appointed, they will serve until the 2026 election, when the governor's race will also take place. DeSantis is term-limited and some local figures have already started vying for the post, including former Rep. Matt Gaetz.