Gov. Ron DeSantis’ announcement that he’s appointing Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Marco Rubio places the 49-year-old Plant City native in an exotic locale far from home.

Moody, whom Gov. Ron DeSantis announced as the replacement for future Secretary of State Marco Rubio once the exiting Senator is confirmed by his soon-to-be-former colleagues next week, will be buoyed by the eponymous Moody for Florida committee, according to Federal Election Commission records.

DeSantis said he wanted an appointee who would be strong on immigration enforcement, support cutting the federal bureaucracy and fight “the woke agenda.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced state Attorney General Ashley Moody would replace Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate.

Florida GOP leaders welcomed Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appointment of Attorney General Ashley Moody to fill Marco Rubio’s soon-to-be vacant seat in the U.S. Senate Thursday, calling her a “conservative warrior” and praising her attention to immigration laws.

Gov. Ron DeSantis praised Moody, who has served as Florida's attorney general since 2019, for fighting against policies he described as part of the Democratic Party's "woke agenda."

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody will take Marco Rubio’s seat in the U.S. Senate. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the appointment on Thursday, making Moody only the second woman to represent Florida in the chamber.

After Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was tapped for consideration as the nation’s next secretary of state, all eyes have been on Gov. Ron DeSantis and the power he has to appoint a new leader to Rubio’s seat.

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis chose Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to be the state’s next senator, serving out the final two years of Sen. Marco Rubio’s term. In an Orlando press conference, DeSantis said Moody had “a demonstrated record of delivering results” against immigration and other issues.

Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Justice Department as attorney general, appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee for her confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (Ben Curtis/AP)

In Tallahassee, which has a big chapter in the Civil Rights Movement (Google “Tallahassee Bus Boycotts” to learn more), the city is asking people to come out and honor MLK’s life and legacy with public celebrations over the weekend and on the day of, Monday.