Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said on Monday he will likely make a decision on Marco Rubio's replacement at the U.S. Senate in early January as he moves to become secretary of state in the upcoming Donald Trump administration.
The governor also confirmed his office has already begun vetting potential candidates and that they have "already received strong interest from several possible candidates."
Even though DeSantis didn't specify any names, several officials have been floated publicly to fill Rubio's seat should he be confirmed by the Senate, and a high-profile figure has been pitching herself in public: Lara Trump.
The president-elect's daughter-in-law has been appearing on different interviews to show her interest in the position, telling Fox News last week that "if I am able to serve, I would love to serve the people of Florida."
"This is my home state now and has been for three years. This is where Eric and I live and truly to have that opportunity, I think would be incredible, and no one knows better than I do the America first agenda or the goals of Donald Trump and the coming four years. So, if I am asked, I would love to consider it, but I have yet to have a conversation with Governor DeSantis," she added.
Trump has now received the support of Rick Scott, the other Florida senator. According to Axios, Scott spoke with Trump about her interest and is now pushing for her selection. "I hope that's exactly who (Governor Ron DeSantis) picks," he told the outlet, adding that she "did a great job with the RNC. She's a great spokesperson. She's conservative." His endorsement now joins those of Sen. Kattie Britt from Alabama and Rep. Anna Paulina from Florida.
Ashley Moody, the Florida attorney general, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, first lady Casey DeSantis and Chief of Staff James Uthmeier are the other names that have been floated as possible replacements of Rubio.
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