Gov. Ron DeSantis’ announcement that he’s appointing Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Marco Rubio places the 49-year-old Plant City native in an exotic locale far from home.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody will succeed Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate, Governor Ron DeSantis announced Thursday.

Moody, whom Gov. Ron DeSantis announced as the replacement for future Secretary of State Marco Rubio once the exiting Senator is confirmed by his soon-to-be-former colleagues next week, will be buoyed by the eponymous Moody for Florida committee, according to Federal Election Commission records.

DeSantis said he wanted an appointee who would be strong on immigration enforcement, support cutting the federal bureaucracy and fight “the woke agenda.”

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis chose Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to be the state’s next senator, serving out the final two years of Sen. Marco Rubio’s term. In an Orlando press conference, DeSantis said Moody had “a demonstrated record of delivering results” against immigration and other issues.

Sen. Marco Rubio has been tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to be secretary of state giving Gov. DeSantis a pick to fill his seat.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody will take Marco Rubio’s seat in the U.S. Senate. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the appointment on Thursday, making Moody only the second woman to represent Florida in the chamber.

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Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Justice Department as attorney general, appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee for her confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (Ben Curtis/AP)

President-elect Donald Trump arrived in Washington on Jan 18 evening for an inauguration celebration marking his return to power that has been upended by record-cold temperatures. Trump landed in the area with his wife Melania in the early evening from his home base in Palm Beach,

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to be the state's next U.S. senator. The announcement comes after President-elect Donald Trump nominated U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida's senior senator since 2010, to be secretary of state.