“My overriding objective will be to return the Department of Justice to its core mission of keeping Americans safe and vigorously prosecuting criminals,” Bondi said. “That includes getting back to basics: gang, drugs cartels, our border and our foreign adversary.”

The Florida attorney general will serve as U.S. senator until the next general election in 2026 when the seat returns to the ballot.

Today marks day two of Pam Bondi's confirmation hearing. She is President-elect Trump's nominee for attorney general.

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. The move is the latest in a carousel of seat hopping among Florida Republicans as Trump leaned heavily on Sunshine State hires to staff his incoming administration.

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor is congratulating Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody on her appointment by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the U.S. Senate to succeed U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) will resign his seat upon his confirmation as Secretary of State, which gave Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) a decision on who to appoint.

Ashley Moody, Florida's attorney general, was selected by Gov. Ron DeSantis to replace Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed the person set to replace Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate — Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. Rubio is undergoing his confirmation hearing for secretary of state this week in Washington and if confirmed, his seat would become vacant.

Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Justice Department as attorney general, appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee for her confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (Ben Curtis/AP)

This week in politics, President Joe Biden delivered his farewell address, the Senate conducted confirmation hearings for President-elect Donald Trump's nominees, the Supreme Court upheld the looming TikTok ban, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire, Trump's inauguration was moved indoors and more.

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