Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to be the state's next U.S. senator, making her the second woman to represent Florida in the chamber.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody will replace Marco Rubio in the Senate, but who is Moody?

“Henry C. Whitaker withdraws as counsel for the State of Florida because he is departing the Office of the Attorney General on January 17, 2025, to pursue another opportunity,” said in a brief filing submitted to the state’s high court Friday.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has tapped Ashley Moody to fill Florida’s vacant US Senate seat, elevating a member of his own inner circle to a position where she’ll be counted on to be a loyal vote in favor of President-elect Donald Trump’s 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.

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.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that Ashley Moody, the state's attorney general, will replace Marco Rubio in the Senate.

Ashley Moody, a Republican, would take the seat of Senator Marco Rubio once he is confirmed as President-elect Donald J. Trump’s secretary of state.

The attorney general of Florida is supposed to represent the people of the state, not serve as counsel for the governor. Ashley Moody never understood that, but it’s worked out nicely for

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)