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.

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.

After Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was tapped for consideration as the nation’s next secretary of state, all eyes have been on Gov. Ron DeSantis and the power he has to appoint a new leader to Rubio’s seat.

Gov. Ron DeSantis praised Moody, who has served as Florida's attorney general since 2019, for fighting against policies he described as part of the Democratic Party's "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.

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

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.

In Tallahassee, which has a big chapter in the Civil Rights Movement (Google “Tallahassee Bus Boycotts” to learn more), the city is asking people to come out and honor MLK’s life and legacy with public celebrations over the weekend and on the day of, Monday.

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,