Florida’s Senate Race Heats Up: Uncertain Vacancy Sparks GOP Rivalry

U.S. Capitol Building under a vibrant blue sky.

Florida’s Senate scene stirs as Republicans vie for Marco Rubio’s potentially vacant spot amid political tensions.

At a Glance

Cory Mills and Kat Cammack seek Governor DeSantis’s consideration for Rubio’s Senate seat.
Governor DeSantis concerned over maintaining GOP’s fragile House majority.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody emerges as a favored Senate candidate.
Potential shifts in key political roles could impact GOP dynamics.

Potential Senate Vacancy

Two U.S. Representatives from Florida, Cory Mills and Kat Cammack, have approached Governor Ron DeSantis to express their interest in the Senate seat expected to be vacated by Marco Rubio, who may receive a Cabinet position in the Trump administration. Marco Rubio’s confirmation as a Cabinet member is likely to proceed swiftly, yet no official timing for his Senate departure has been confirmed. Florida’s political map may soon see realignment as a result.

Governor DeSantis appreciates both candidates, yet remains wary of the potential consequences for the GOP House majority. Mills is willing to wait for a possible Senate run in 2026, should his current candidacy fall through. Cammack, on the other hand, advocates that her shift to the Senate would not significantly endanger the party’s objectives as Republicans would still need full alignment for successful legislative passage.

The Complex Political Calculus

Governor DeSantis faces a dilemma, given that any shift in the House could disrupt the delicate balance—currently 217 Republicans to 215 Democrats. His stance reflects the awareness that any change might impede Florida’s legislative effectiveness in the House. “I’ve been honest with the congresspeople, that’s a big concern of mine,” DeSantis reiterated about the repercussions of appointing Mills or Cammack to the Senate seat.

“I’ve been honest with the congresspeople, that’s a big concern of mine because one of the criteria I had with who I’m going to appoint is, we just had an election. The president has a mandate. I want you to help facilitate that. I don’t want you to be sand in the gears. But if you put someone there, and then it reduces the numbers in the House, and they make it harder for them to be able to enact an agenda.” – Ron DeSantis

Ashley Moody, Florida’s attorney general, has risen as a prospective Senate candidate, complicating the current roster further. Meanwhile, Matt Gaetz raised speculation about his own political trajectory—teasing potential bids or reconsiderations for public office amid lingering scrutiny from earlier ethics reviews.

Shifting Dynamics in Florida

As political players maneuver for Rubio’s Senate seat, broader implications for Florida’s political order take shape. Cammack, confident in her credentials, appreciates DeSantis’s evaluation. “Just going off what the governor said about us this morning,” she explains, “he said that we’re good fighters, that he likes our record.” Meanwhile, Cory Mills looks forward to assisting President-elect Trump’s administration in other capacities.

“Just going off what the governor said about us this morning, he said that we’re good fighters, that he likes our record, that he respects our record, and so that I’ll leave it at that” – Kat Cammack

Florida’s political landscape remains a closely watched arena as key decisions unfold. How the Republican leadership resolves the potential vacancy could set the stage for the party’s future powerplays, both in the state and on a national scale.