Gov. Ron DeSantis appears with Attorney General Ashley Moody during a news conference in the Florida Cabinet chamber on March 29, 2022. (Photo by Michael Moline/Florida Phoenix)
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.
Among those congratulating her were some of the people floated for the role that’s now Moody’s, including Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, who posted on X.
Congratulations to Attorney General Ashley Moody on her appointment as Florida’s next U.S. Senator.
Floridians will be well represented in the U.S. Senate with @AGAshleyMoody! pic.twitter.com/8eqkBCUxaQ
— Jeanette Nuñez (@LtGovNunez) January 16, 2025
Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis congratulated Moody, highlighting her attention to immigration enforcement.
Congratulations to Florida’s next U.S. Senator, @AshleyMoodyFL!
Americans voted for border security and safe communities. @AshleyMoodyFL has dedicated her career to these priorities. She’s ready to hit the ground running and work with the Trump Administration to deliver real…
— Casey DeSantis (@CaseyDeSantis) January 16, 2025
State Sen. Jay Collins posted that he had been “in the mix” for the appointment and congratulated Moody on her new job.
“I want to thank [DeSantis] for showing enough faith and trust in me to be in the mix. The fight continues! We have a nation to save!!” Collins posted to X Thursday morning.
Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd posted that he was in consideration for the position, too.
“Congratulations to [Moody] on her appointment to the US Senate. She will be a great representative of our State. I also am deeply grateful to [DeSantis] for his confidence in me and consideration for this appointment,” Byrd posted to X Thursday morning.
State Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, in consideration to be appointed the state’s chief financial officer following the departure of Jimmy Patronis to run for Matt Gaetz’s Panhandle congressional seat, posted a selfie with Moody. “She’s gonna be AWESOME!” he said in another post.
This was yesterday at the @GovRonDeSantis press conference. Possibly the last selfie @AGAshleyMoody took before the big announcement. So proud to call such a fighter our next US Senator. pic.twitter.com/bBAC8ZqYos
— Blaise Ingoglia (@GovGoneWild) January 16, 2025
Patronis, too, posted a picture to celebrate Moody’s new position.
Congratulations, @AGAshleyMoody!
Looking forward to working with you in Washington to support President Trump’s agenda to shutdown the border and put America FIRST.
We BOTH visited the Southern Border and know how important it is to protect Florida… pic.twitter.com/wWNBgzJ6t1
— Jimmy Patronis (@JimmyPatronis) January 16, 2025
Former governor and soon-to-be senior U.S. Sen. Rick Scott welcomed Moody to the role.
I welcome @AGAshleyMoody to the United States Senate!
Ashley has done an incredible job fighting for Floridians and keeping our communities safe as Attorney General. I have no doubt she will do an incredible job as senator!
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) January 16, 2025
Florida Senate Ben Albritton called Moody “a strong conservative warrior,” saying she “will work hard to make sure the U.S. Senate passes President Trump’s agenda.”
Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez congratulated Moody, too.
Senator @marcorubio leaves big shoes to fill and in @AshleyMoodyFL Floridians will have a US Senator who can continue to carry the torch for the rule of law, freedom abroad, and prosperity at home. Congratulations AG Moody on your selection and look forward to your leadership!
— Daniel Perez (@Daniel_PerezFL) January 16, 2025
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried called Moody “Ron’s personal lapdog from day one” in a statement following the appointment.
“Despite her role as an independent constitutional officer, she has insisted on calling him ‘boss’ and defended his extreme agenda at every turn. Her reward is a seat in the United States Senate, paid for by her loyalty to Ron and her failure to serve Floridians,” the statement continued.
Fried said Moody has neglected to address property insurance costs. “Instead, she spent her time chasing political attention and currying favor with the far right,” she said.
Fried also criticized Moody for attempting to remove Amendment 4 from the ballot, calling the attorney general’s efforts “weaponizing state law.”
“As a Senator, Ashley will no doubt take her marching orders exclusively from Donald Trump with no regard for what’s best for the people of Florida — she may even just keep the seat warm until Ron runs in 2026. Ashley Moody failed Florida as Attorney General, and she’ll fail Florida in the Senate,” Fried’s statement concluded.
DeSantis Watch, an organization self-described as “shining a spotlight on the Governor’s failures of leadership that make all of us less free,” called the governor’s appointment “self-serving” in choosing “someone with absolute loyalty to the Governor’s long-term political ambitions.”
“While Florida’s Attorney General is an independent constitutional officer whose role is to serve as the ‘people’s lawyer,’ Ashley Moody has instead been a subservient personal attorney for the Governor who has viewed her job as defending his most extreme and anti-freedom policies that do nothing to raise wages or lower costs for workers and seniors,” Anders Croy, the organizations communications director said in a Thursday news release.
The organization pointed to taxpayer dollars used to fight lawsuits stemming from policies passed during his tenure, which Moody has played a role in defending.
Moody leaves behind a six-year tenure as attorney general, serving as a circuit judge before that. On Thursday Moody, touted she will soon have experience in all three branches of government.
Former Gov. Jeb Bush said Moody is a “great choice.” “AG Moody will be a fine Senator,” he posted to X.
Among others issuing congratulations were Florida GOP Chair Evan Power and U.S. Reps. Neal Dunn, Aaron Bean, Laurel Lee, Vern Buchanan, Scott Franklin, Mario Díaz-Balart, María Elvira Salazar, Carlos Giménez, and Cory Mills, who was interviewed by DeSantis for the job.
This story was updated to include a statement from DeSantis Watch.
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