DeSantis Could Risk GOP House Control With His Senate Pick UPDATED

By Susie Madrak — January 16, 2025

UPDATE: Mike Johnson gets a whew.

BREAKING: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will appoint state Attorney General Ashley Moody to fill Marco Rubio's U.S. Senate seat. Moody has been a key defendant in multiple voting rights lawsuits and succeeded Pam Bondi as Florida's AG. More to come.

— Democracy Docket (@democracydocket.com) 2025-01-16T15:50:22.406Z

Went straight to videos to confirm what I already suspected: Ashley Moody speaks in fundie baby voice. She will be a very good girl for Donald.

— Randi Mayem Singer (@rmayemsinger.bsky.social) 2025-01-16T17:35:00.534Z

Ron DeSantis is considering picking off another House Republican to fill Rubio’s Senate seat. I'm kind of surprised that he didn't pick Lara Trump! Via The Daily Beast:

DeSantis spoke this week with Florida Reps. Kat Cammack, a rising star and Trump ally who is also close with DeSantis, and Cory Mills, a MAGA firebrand, sources told the Daily Beast. And he acknowledged on Monday that he’s well aware of the practical implications at play for advancing Trump’s agenda.

”Are you going to go from 217 to 216? That’s a tough, tough thing,” DeSantis said at a news conference.

The discussions between DeSantis and the two House lawmakers he is eyeing to fill Rubio’s Senate seat come as Speaker Johnson walks a tightrope trying to not to lose more than two votes on any one bill to advance Trump’s agenda.

Trump has already poached a number of Congress members to serve in his administration. Now, Ron DeSantis may pick off another House Republican (Florida's Kat Cammack or Cory Mills) to fill Marco Rubio’s Senate seat. That could jeopardize Trump's agenda, due to Mike Johnson's razor-thin GOP majority.

— Jon Cooper (@joncooper-us.bsky.social) 2025-01-15T18:26:09.551Z

#Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says he won't be appointing himself to the Senate to replace Marco Rubio floridaphoenix.com/briefs/no-de... via @floridaphoenix.com

— Craig Pittman (@craigtimes.bsky.social) 2025-01-11T15:52:27.112Z

DeSantis considers 2 House members to replace Rubio in the Senate.
Can Mike Johnson hold it together with a one seat majority?
www.thedailybeast.com/desantis-cou...

— Sko Hayes (@skohayes.bsky.social) 2025-01-15T20:03:32.748Z

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