MIAMI - Florida House Speaker Danny "Daniel" Perez congratulated state Attorney General Ashley Moody on her appointment to the U.S. Senate by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday.
"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," Perez said. "Congratulations AG Moody on your selection and look forward to your leadership!"
Moody has been Florida's top prosecutor since January 2019. The 49-year-old will replace Sen. Marco Rubio, who will vacate his seat after likely becoming the next Secretary of State.
"I'm proud to announce that I'm selecting our Attorney General Ashley Moody to serve as our next U.S. Senator," said DeSantis at his Orlando press conference Thursday morning, stressing Moody's pro-conservatism, tough-on-immigration stance, and record of "delivering."
Moody becomes the second woman to serve Florida in the Senate after Republican Paula Hawkins from 1981-1987. A DeSantis ally, other contenders for the seat included Florida Lt. Gov Jeanette Nunez, President-elect Donald Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump, and DeSantis chief-of-staff James Uthmeier.
DeSantis was also briefly rumored to appoint himself to the seat. The governor later picked Uthmeier to succeed Moody as Florida's Attorney General.
Before becoming Attorney General, Moody was elected Circuit Court Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County in 2006. At 31, she was the youngest judge in Florida history.
She also attended the University of Florida where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting and law degree. Afterward, Moody attended Stetson University College of Law earning a Masters of Law in International Law.
Moody's appointment will happen after President-elect Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20 and Rubio officially resigns his seat. Her Senate term will last two years and be up for election in 2026.
Moody thanked DeSantis after his announcement.
"Governor, I want you to know I will not let you down, I will not let the citizens of Florida down, and I will not let my country down," Moody said, adding a promise to bring "persistence, passion, and tenacity" as Attorney General to the U.S. Senate.
"I'm ready to show up for this nation and fight for President Trump to deliver the American first agenda on day one," Moody added.
