Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says he's waiting till the last minute to announce his pick because he doesn't want the new person to be "a piñata" for the news media.

By Andy Sullivan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday picked state Attorney General Ashley Moody to succeed Senator Marco Rubio when he leaves his office to become the next U.

Moody, the state's attorney general, is Gov. Ron DeSantis’ pick to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who is poised to be the next Secretary of State for President-elect Donald J. Trump. DeSantis made the announcement in a Thursday news conference in Orlando.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday tapped his state’s attorney general, Ashley Moody, to replace Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) when he leaves his office to become secretary of state to President-elect Donald Trump. DeSantis announced his decision at a press conference in Orlando, joined by Moody.

Moody, an ally of the governor, said she looked forward to carrying out the Trump agenda.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced state Attorney General Ashley Moody as his pick to replace Sen. Marco Rubio.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that Ashley Moody, the state's attorney general, will replace Marco Rubio in the Senate.

Ashley Moody, a Republican, would take the seat of Senator Marco Rubio once he is confirmed as President-elect Donald J. Trump’s secretary of state.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday named Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody as his pick to replace Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate, ending weeks of speculation about who the governor would elevate to one of the most powerful political posts in the state.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody will replace Senator Marco Rubio if he is confirmed as President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday appointed state Attorney General Ashley Moody to the U.S. Senate, setting her up to fill Sen. Marco Rubio's seat when he joins the Trump administraiton.