Sunshine State to West Wing: Florida dominates Trump's administration
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When President-elect Trump moves from Mar-a-Lago to Pennsylvania Ave., he'll bring a gaggle of fellow Floridians with him.
Why it matters: Florida has become the epicenter of Trump's political movement and the state that is shaping the modern Republican Party.
Driving the news: After Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) withdrew from consideration as attorney general on Thursday, Trump's next choice was another Sunshine State ally, former Florida AG Pam Bondi.
- Trump's nominee for secretary of state, Sen. Marco Rubio, also hails from Florida.
- So do the incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles, and national security adviser, Rep. Michael Waltz.
- Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) was the Trumpworld favorite for majority leader, though he didn't receive Trump's endorsement and his bid fell short.
The big picture: During his four years out of office, Trump turned Mar-a-Lago into the mecca of MAGA, with the movement's top figures making regular pilgrimages.
- Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis turned Florida into a test kitchen for policies that have become national conservative priorities and led a rightward shift that has left the state well-stocked with ascending GOP talent.
- Helped by an influx of conservative-leaning voters, Trump and DeSantis turned a pivotal swing state MAGA red. Registered Republicans now outnumber Democrats by a million.
- South Florida has also become a hub for conservative and libertarian-leaning business leaders, particularly in the hedge fund and crypto worlds.
Friction point: DeSantis' run for president created a rift among Florida Republicans, forcing them to choose sides between the governor and Trump.
- Wiles, who helped DeSantis win the governor's mansion in 2018 before they had a falling out, jumped on Team Trump.
- So did other prominent Republicans in the state, like Waltz and U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, who was on some shortlists for vice president.
What we're watching: Whether Wiles, a veteran of top Florida lobbying firm Ballard Partners, will stock the West Wing with people from her network in the Sunshine State.
- Bondi is also a Florida Ballard alum.
Zoom out: Trump's other home state, New York, also has an outsized presence in his administration-in-waiting, Politico notes.
- Among them: Rep. Elise Stefanik as UN ambassador; former Rep. Lee Zeldin as EPA administrator; and ex-ICE head and former New York state police officer Tom Homan as "border czar."
- Trump has also poached from TV, nominating two Fox News hosts, former Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) and Pete Hegseth, and talk show veteran Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Go deeper: Trump builds his "central casting" Cabinet
