Meet Ashley Moody, Rubio’s Successor in the Senate

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Ashley Moody, the state’s attorney general (R), to the Senate Thursday. This propelled a rising star of Florida politics into national prominence.

 

Moody will replace Marco Rubio, the nominee for Secretary of State by President-elect Trump (R-Fla.), in the Senate. DeSantis stated on Thursday that Moody will “most likely” be sworn into office on Monday after Trump’s inauguration.

 

Moody has been steadily rising through the ranks in Florida’s legal and political arenas.

 

DeSantis stated that Moody was a member of the fifth generation of Plant City, Florida, located in Hillsborough County. She is the daughter of senior U.S. District Judge James Moody who represents the Middle District of the state. Moody graduated from the University of Florida with a law degree and has a master’s in international law.

 

According to the website of the state attorney general, she began her career as a lawyer at Holland and Knight and became the youngest judge of the state in 2006 when she was appointed Circuit Court Judge for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Hillsborough County.

 

Moody was elected as attorney general of the state in 2018. She replaced former Florida Attorney-General Pam Bondi who was Trump’s nomination to lead the Justice Department.

 

Moody’s long-standing support of Trump as Florida’s top prosecutor is well documented. She supported Trump in 2020 by supporting the Texas v. Pennsylvania suit that sought to overturn the results of that year’s presidential election. She also charged Ryan Wesley Routh with attempted felony killing last month. Routh is accused of trying to assassinate Trump at one of Trump’s Florida golf courses.

 

 

She hasn’t always been a Trump supporter. In a federal lawsuit filed in 2009, she accused Trump of fraud relating to a real estate deal. In 2017, she claimed that, having backed Trump in 2016, the matter did not affect her support.

 

In a previous statement, Moody told Politico, “This matter had no bearing whatsoever on the support my family gave to our President in the election and I continue to back him and his Washington agenda.”

 

Rick Scott, Florida’s soon-to-be senior senator and former governor of Florida, has praised Moody’s nomination.

 

Ashley has done a fantastic job as Attorney General in protecting Floridians. Scott wrote on X that he had no doubts about her ability to do a great job as senator.

 

In a Thursday statement, Tim Scott (National Republican Senatorial campaign chair) praised Moody for being a “proven Conservative fighter” who has fought to advance President Trump’s agenda.

 

Scott stated that “as Attorney General she has been an international leader in border security, championing safe streets and an unyielding protector of Floridians’ rights.” “As a mother of two, she knows the importance of our Republican Majority mission to provide generational opportunities for family members.”

 

Moody is expected to serve as a senator for the next two years, but it is unclear if she will seek the same seat again in 2026. DeSantis also considered Florida Rep. Cory Mills. He said, “You can guarantee my hat will be in the ring in 2026.”