She constantly fought the Biden administration. Now she’ll be Florida’s next senator.

By Kimberly Leonard, Gary Fineout | 01/17/2025 06:33 AM EST

Gov. Ron DeSantis chose Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to replace Sen. Marco Rubio, who’s bound for the State Department.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis listens as Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody speaks.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is a close ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis, but she has also tried to tie herself to President-elect Donald Trump's orbit. Lynne Sladky/AP

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.

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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.

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