WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody will succeed Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate, Governor Ron DeSantis announced Thursday. Moody’s appointment makes her only the second woman to represent Florida in the Senate.

Florida politicians, both past and present, responded to the announcement.

Senator Rick Scott expressed his support on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying, “I welcome Ashley Moody 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!”

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In contrast, the Florida Democratic Party criticized the appointment. FDP Chair Nikki Fried said, “Ashley Moody has been Ron’s personal lapdog from day one. 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.”

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