MIAMI — When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis picked Ashley Moody for his state’s open U.S. Senate seat Thursday, he turned to a rising star in state politics, a harsh critic of President Joe Biden and one of his closest political allies to send to Washington.
Moody, when she replaces the State Department-bound Marco Rubio, will add a notably younger voice to the Senate. Moody, 49, will be one of just a dozen senators under the age of 50 when she takes office and will become Florida’s second-ever female senator.
As state attorney general, she has made her name by repeatedly suing the Biden administration, including on illegal immigration, transgender rights, Covid-19 policies and student loan forgiveness.
Moody will take office just in time for President-elect Donald Trump’s return to Washington. She was the only Florida Cabinet-level official who endorsed DeSantis over Trump during the 2024 primaries, which could be seen as a demerit for a president famous for keeping score and holding grudges — but since DeSantis ended his bid, she has steadfastly portrayed herself as a MAGA loyalist.