DeSantis picks Florida AG Ashley Moody to fill Rubio's Senate seat

• The announcement is scheduled for a press conference Thursday morning in Orlando.

Breaking it down: Picking Moody for Senate clears the way for DeSantis to name his chief of staff, James Uthmeier, to replace her as AG, according to the source who said that "it was always Ashley. And James is the obvious pick to replace her."

• Rep. Byron Donalds is already filling out a political team to run for governor in 2026.
• If Moody decides to run for reelection for her newly appointed Senate seat, she is on a crash course with Rep. Cory Mills, who announced recently that he would run for Rubio's seat.
• The office of attorney general also comes open in 2026.

What they're saying: "I want somebody that's going to work with President Trump to deliver on the mandate he earned from the American people," DeSantis said.

• That means cutting spending, stopping inflation, reining in the "federal bureaucracy," fighting against illegal immigration, and "putting Americans first" by not "bringing foreigners in to displace our own people in key positions," DeSantis said.

• DeSantis also noted Moody, a fifth generation Floridian, was a corporate lawyer, judge and, as a teen, was even elected "queen of the famous Strawberry Festival" in her hometown of Plant City.
• "I'm ready to show up and fight for this nation and fight for President Trump to deliver the American First agenda on day one," Moody said. "I've got the backs of the American people, DOGE and President Trump."

Go deeper: Florida dominates Trump's West Wing