FLORIDA - Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of former President Donald Trump, has officially withdrawn her name from consideration to fill the soon-to-be-vacant U.S. Senate seat in Florida.
The seat, currently held by Senator Marco Rubio, is expected to be vacated as Rubio is likely to be appointed Secretary of State under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.
In a statement on X, Lara Trump expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support she received but emphasized that her decision was made after much personal reflection.
The statement read "After an incredible amount of thought, contemplation, and encouragement from so many, I have decided to remove my name from consideration for the United States Senate. I could not have been more honored to serve as RNC co-chair during the most high-stakes election of our lifetime and I’m truly humbled by the unbelievable support shown to me by the people of our country, and here in the great state of Florida. I have read so many of your kind messages and I cannot thank you enough. I do have a big announcement that I’m excited to share in January, so, stay tuned. I remain incredibly passionate about public service and look forward to serving our country again sometime in the future. In the meantime, I wish Governor DeSantis the best of luck with this appointment."
The decision places the responsibility of appointing Rubio’s replacement squarely on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
The selected individual will serve the remainder of Rubio’s term until the 2026 election.
Among the names floated as potential candidates, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is seen as a frontrunner, given her close ties to Governor DeSantis and her prominent role in Florida’s political landscape.
Reports suggest that both Governor DeSantis and former President Trump did not endorse Lara Trump’s potential candidacy for the Senate seat.
These reports indicate potential strategic concerns about her lack of political experience in the legislative arena, despite her strong name recognition within the Republican Party.
Lara Trump, who recently stepped down as co-chair of the Republican National Committee, remains a significant figure in GOP circles.
Her upcoming announcement in January is highly anticipated, with speculation growing about a possible role in the Trump campaign or another high-profile position in Republican politics.
Governor DeSantis has not announced a timeline for naming Rubio’s successor, leaving the state and the Republican Party closely watching for his decision.