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Thursday, Feb 19, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Teases Imminent Announcement of Marco Rubio’s Senate Replacement

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Teases Imminent Announcement of Marco Rubio’s Senate Replacement

DeSantis to name successor to Rubio ahead of Trump’s inauguration, with speculation surrounding Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody as the leading contender.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has confirmed that the announcement of his pick to replace outgoing U.S. Senator Marco Rubio will come soon, likely before Rubio’s confirmation as Secretary of State under President-elect Donald Trump.

DeSantis, speaking on conservative radio with host Erick Erickson, explained that he had deliberately waited until the final moment to make the announcement to protect his nominee from media scrutiny.

Rubio, who has represented Florida in the Senate since 2011, was questioned by U.S. senators on January 20 as part of the confirmation process for his new role.

DeSantis stated, 'I think Senator Rubio is likely going to get confirmed and officially appointed in the afternoon of January 20th.' The governor also emphasized that he did not want to name a successor too early, explaining that this would subject the new appointee to relentless media attacks.

He preferred to wait until the timing was right, just ahead of the inauguration.

The governor's decision to delay the announcement has generated widespread speculation about who will take over Rubio’s seat.

One prominent figure who has been linked to the role is Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, who accompanied DeSantis at a press conference on January 16 to discuss the upcoming special legislative session on immigration.

DeSantis, in his conversation with Erickson, confirmed that he would not appoint a sitting U.S. House member to the Senate, citing concerns over the delicate balance in the House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a slim majority.

'If you put someone there and it reduces the numbers in the House, it may make it harder for them to enact an agenda,' DeSantis remarked.

The governor’s remarks on his Senate pick come as he also prepares for a special session on illegal immigration scheduled to begin on January 27. The choice of Rubio’s successor will be critical for DeSantis’s political strategy as it could influence the Republican agenda in the Senate, particularly in relation to immigration policy, a priority for President Trump.

The announcement of the Senate replacement is expected to take place shortly, with DeSantis hinting that it could coincide with his scheduled press conference in Orlando on Thursday morning.
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