FLORIDA — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Thursday his pick to replace Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who is likely to be confirmed as President-elect Donald Trump's Secretary of State.

Speaking in Orlando at the Rosen Plaza Hotel, DeSantis selected Florida's Attorney General Ashley Moody to replace Rubio in the U.S. Senate, joining Florida Sen. Rick Scott.

"I want a senator that's going to be willing to lean in against the excessive spending, and cuts spending, and stop the inflation. I want somebody that understands that the federal bureaucracy is run amok. And it must be held to account. And we need three branches of government, not four branches of government. And we need somebody that understands the fight against illegal immigration, is willing to shut the border and more importantly, make sure any legal immigration to this country is putting Americans first.

I wanted somebody with a demonstrated record of delivering results on those important issues. Talk is cheap. We need people that have demonstrated fidelity to these principles with their actions. So that is why today I'm proud to announce that I am selecting our Attorney General, Ashley Moody, to serve as our next U.S. Senator," DeSantis said during Thursday's annoucement. 

Moody became Florida's 38th Attorney General on Jan. 8, 2019. The University of Florida grad was born in Plant City and was elected Circuit Court Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County in 2006 at the age of 31. 

During her time as attorney general, she focused many of her efforts on tackling the opioid crisis and human trafficking. 

Following DeSantis, Moody took to the podium and pledged to not let Floridians, and the country, down. 

"Governor, I want you to know, I will not let you down. I will not let the citizens of Florida down. And I will not let my country down," Moody expressed. 

Moody will likely become the second woman to serve as U.S. Senator in Florida. Paula Hawkins was the first woman to serve one term from 1985 to 1987. 

DeSantis also mentioned during the press conference that he is likely to replace Moody with his Chief of Staff James Uthmeier.  

The replacement announcement comes following Rubio's confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

A week after Donald Trump won the November 2024 election, the president-elect named Marco Rubio as his nominee for secretary of state on Nov. 13, 2024. 

Rubio faced the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he served for 14 years, during his confirmation hearing on Jan. 15. 

The 53-year-old Republican received a warm welcome from both sides of the aisle, making jokes about how "surreal" it was to be on the other side of the dais.

"I hope I can earn your support, whether it's because you believe I would do a good job, or because you want to get rid of me," Rubio joked as part of his opening statement.

During his hearing, Rubio touched on issues plaguing the Middle East, Latin America and eastern Europe, but focused much of his time warning that without swift and substantive policy shifts, China will remain the "biggest threat" to American prosperity in the 21st Century.

"If we don't change course, we are going to live in the world where much of what matters to us on a daily basis from our security to our health will be dependent on whether the Chinese allow us to have it or not," Rubio testified.

If confirmed, Rubio would become the first Latino to serve as the nation's top diplomat.

However, until Rubio's official appointment, he remains a Florida senator.