Congressional Republicans were excited about the prospect of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tapping Lara Trump to be the state’s next senator, but now that she’s removed her name from consideration, members say DeSantis hasn’t asked for their input on who else could fill the role.
DeSantis’ distant relationships on the Hill aren’t a new phenomenon — Florida lawmakers have long said he rarely calls them up — but as his place in Trump’s world remains unclear, his Senate pick could give him an important ally.
There’s no love lost between DeSantis and one of Trump’s closest advisers, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who advised DeSantis’ gubernatorial race before an ugly public rift. Picking someone in Trump’s orbit could help patch things up.