Lara Trump emerges as an early favorite to fill Rubio's Senate seat

Calls from Republicans are intensifying for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) to pick President-elect Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump to replace his secretary of State pick, Marco Rubio, in the Senate. 

On Thursday, Florida Sen. Rick Scott (R) said he hopes Trump picks his daughter-in-law, echoing his colleagues Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.). Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R) has also publicly backed her. 

Appointing Lara Trump would ensure that the incoming president has a loyalist in the Senate, but it would most definitely come with criticism from Democrats.

But DeSantis, who has been on a trade mission in Italy this week, will ultimately make the final call. The governor himself and a number of figures from his orbit have been floated as well, including his own chief of staff, as well as the state’s lieutenant governor and attorney general. 

“There are a lot of good names in the mix for the Senate seat, Lara Trump being one of them,” Republican Party of Florida Chair Evan Power said. “I think she would be a capable voice if that’s the direction the governor decided to go in.” 

Lara Trump herself expressed interest in the position during an interview with Fox Business’s Maria Bartiromo on Thursday. 

“If this is something I am asked to do, I would seriously consider it, but I have yet to hear from Gov. DeSantis. So we’ll see what happens,” Lara Trump said. 

Lara Trump has received praise from Republicans across the board for her role as Republican National Committee (RNC) co-chair, given the party’s massive wins last week. 

“She worked incredibly hard at the RNC and helped deliver a huge win for Trump and Republicans across the country,” said one Florida House Republican. “She is articulate and would be a reliable MAGA vote for Trump.” 

The speculation over the seat’s future comes as the state has become the epicenter of Republican Party politics. In addition to nominating Rubio, Trump also tapped Florida's Rep. Mike Waltz (R) for national security adviser and former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R) for attorney general. Additionally, Trump is carrying out his transition operation from his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Fla., with his incoming chief of staff and veteran Florida political operative Susie Wiles. 

The dynamic could put Trump and DeSantis, who put their Republican primary rivalry aside ahead of the general election, on a potential collision course. The two famously engaged in a highly personal presidential primary battle.

Another added element is Wiles’s central role in Trump’s political world. Wiles worked on DeSantis’s successful 2018 gubernatorial campaign, but the two developed a rift. She responded to news of DeSantis dropping out of the GOP primary in a post on social platform X, writing “Bye, bye.”  

To be clear, the president-elect has not publicly pushed for Lara Trump to fill the position. Meanwhile, DeSantis endorsed the then-Republican candidate after exiting the primary, part of an effort at burying the hatchet.

In April, Trump and DeSantis met for three hours in South Florida in a meeting that was arranged by businessman Steve Witkoff.

Witkoff was appointed to be Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East earlier this week. 

Trump touted the meeting as “great” and confirmed he had the “full and enthusiastic support” of DeSantis. The governor was given a speaking role at the Republican National Convention months later and has played a central role in pushing for an investigation into the second assassination attempt against Trump in Palm Beach. 

“DeSantis endorsed Trump, so by all accounts the relationship between the two of them is fine,” said Justin Sayfie, a Florida-based strategist. “He endorsed him a lot earlier than Nikki Haley did.” 

“There’s much more significant dynamics at play when you’re appointing a U.S. senator,” he added. 

But others say the relationship between the two men is not what it was before DeSantis challenged Trump for the nomination last year. 

“Sure,” said the Florida House Republican when asked if the idea of appointing Lara Trump offers a good opportunity to repair the relationship between the president-elect and the governor. 

“But does anyone actually believe that those two will ever trust each other again? Cordial, but unlikely to ever be fully repaired.” 

If DeSantis decides to move in a different direction than Lara Trump, he still has a significant pool of applicants. 

Other names floated to replace Rubio include DeSantis’s chief of staff James Uthmeier, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez and state Attorney General Ashley Moody.

“All great people,” the Florida House Republican said. “Also heard there are some congressional names being batted about. This is the [governor’s] call and only he and Casey are going to be in the know,” they said, referring to Florida first lady Casey DeSantis. 

The timing of any appointment is unclear given questions surrounding the president-elect’s push to use recess appointments. And any convention confirmation process would take place after Trump is inaugurated next year. However, Rubio, unlike a number of Trump’s other appointments, will likely face an easier confirmation process. 

“This is not imminent,” Sayfie said. 

Mychael Schnell contributed.