Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) has confirmed that he will "absolutely not" be appointing himself to replace Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL).
During an event in Jacksonville, Florida, on Friday, media asked DeSantis if he was planning on appointing himself to Rubio's seat and leaving his place in Florida's governor's mansion.
Rubio has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to be his secretary of state and it's up to DeSantis to name Rubio's replacement.
DeSantis told reporters, "Absolutely not. It's funny, you know, these people write these things … and anytime they're talking about anything I'm doing, they're just making it up, right?"
DeSantis appears content with remaining in Florida after a failed presidential campaign in the 2024 GOP primary. The sentiment is that DeSantis isn't ready for national politics and needs to stay in Florida for a few more years.
DeSantis was emphatic in his statement that he would not replace Rubio and didn't mince words in calling out media rumor mills that suggested he was planning on leaving for the Senate.
DeSantis continued by saying, "I mean, they'll talk to someone because [they'll] say, 'Oh, someone familiar with the governor's thinking.' Understand, that means they don't know what the hell they're talking about. That means somebody is saying, 'Well, I know how the governor thinks. He's probably saying this.' So they try to do grist for the mill."
Essentially, there was never any solid indication of DeSantis appointing himself and it was pure rumor peddling by the mainstream media.
DeSantis ended off by saying, "I was never in consideration for that. Trust me, we're doing well here, and we're going to continue to do that. And so, it was never something that I considered."
DeSantis's failed presidential campaign did genuine damage to his stock nationally and he seems to understand that fact. DeSantis was seen as a rising star prior to the GOP primary and some still see him that way but he needs to keep up the good work in Florida.
Under DeSantis's watch, Florida has become a successful state that has attracted thousands of new migrants from failing blue states. If he can continue pushing Florida to succeed until his term is over, he will be in a great position to run in 2028.
As for who will end up replacing Rubio in the Senate, the latest a replacement will be named is January 20th, the day of Trump's inauguration as the 47th President of the United States.
DeSantis explained, "I told people we would [fill Rubio's seat] in the first half of January, and I think we're probably on course to do that, but clearly we will have somebody in place ready to go on Jan. 20. I think it's important."
Another announcement will likely come in the next week ahead of Trump's inauguration as it's critical that the GOP have its full Senate complement while nomination hearings are underway.
