Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) will get to appoint a replacement for Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), a choice that will force him to balance the preferences of President-elect Donald Trump with what could benefit his own political future.

After days of speculation, Rubio was nominated to become the next secretary of state on Wednesday, giving DeSantis the power to unilaterally appoint someone to fill Rubio’s vacant Senate seat. DeSantis’s choice would hold the seat until 2026, when a special election would then be held to fill the remaining two years of Rubio’s term.

Recommended Stories

Gaetz teases run for Rubio’s Senate seat

Two House Republicans eye Florida Senate seat being vacated by Rubio

DeSantis lays claim to a ‘free’ Florida with Trump in his backyard as 2024 showdown looms