Here’s what happens to Waltz and Rubio seats if vacated for Trump Cabinet positions
By
Annabella Rosciglione
November 12, 2024 2:00 pm
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President-elect Donald Trump has tapped several elected officials to serve in his administration, which will prompt vacancies and special elections.
Of seats affected in the House, Trump announced House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) would be his U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in his second administration and that Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) would be his national security adviser, which will leave at least two vacancies in the House. In the Senate, Trump is expected to ask Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), who was reelected in 2022, to serve as secretary of state.
To replace Waltz in Florida, the Constitution requires that vacancies in the House be filled through an election. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) does not have appointment powers here. Per state law, he will schedule a special election in the coming weeks.
Florida state law gives DeSantis the authorization to appoint someone to fill a senator’s vacated seat. He will appoint someone who could remain in the role until at least 2026, which is when a special election to finish the final two years of Rubio’s term would be held. There would be a regularly scheduled election in 2028 for a full term in the Senate.
Two people close to DeSantis told Politico that he would likely look to Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, former Florida House Speaker Jose Oliva, or DeSantis’s chief of staff James Uthmeier as possible replacements.
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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/3227201/what-happens-mike-waltz-marco-rubio-seats-vacated-trump-cabinet-positions/
