{"id":2391408,"date":"2025-01-16T18:49:02","date_gmt":"2025-01-16T23:49:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ashley-moody-faces-trump-litmus-test-after-senate-appointment-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-01-16T18:49:56","modified_gmt":"2025-01-16T23:49:56","slug":"ashley-moody-faces-trump-litmus-test-after-senate-appointment-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ashley-moody-faces-trump-litmus-test-after-senate-appointment-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Ashley Moody faces Trump litmus test after Senate appointment &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fashley-moody-faces-trump-litmus-test-after-senate-appointment-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2391408&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Ashley Moody, Florida&#8217;s\u200d Attorney General, has been appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to \u2062fill the \u2064Senate \u2063seat vacated by Marco Rubio. This move could lead to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-david-perdue-halting-buckhead-city-bill-is-height-of-corruption-in-georgia-statehouse\/\" title=\"Exclusive \u2014 David Perdue: Halting Buckhead City Bill Is \u2018Height of Corruption\u2019 in Georgia Statehouse\">contentious primary battle<\/a> among Florida Republicans, notably as Rep.\u200d Cory Mills, who is allied with Donald Trump, indicates he may challenge Moody for her position\u2064 in the upcoming 2026 election. Mills emphasized that Moody&#8217;s \u200csupport for\u200b Trump will be a critical factor\u200b in his decision to run. while Moody has secured Trump\u2019s support in her previous reelection \u200dcampaign\u200c and is perceived as a conservative who opposes Biden&#8217;s immigration policies,\u200d her endorsement of DeSantis over Trump in the last primary has complicated\u200d her standing with some Trump supporters. Despite these \u2062tensions, \u2064Moody has publicly \u2064stated her intention to support Trump&#8217;s \u200cagenda,\u200c with Rubio expressing\u2064 confidence in her alignment\u2063 with the president\u2019s plans. \u200cHowever, there are signs of discontent among Trump&#8217;s base regarding\u200b Moody&#8217;s\u2062 Senate appointment, raising questions about unity within \u2062the Republican Party in Florida.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Ashley Moody faces Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/implicit-bias-is-nothing-but-divisive-junk-science\/\" title=\"\u2018Implicit Bias\u2019 Is Nothing But Divisive Junk Science\">litmus test<\/a> after appointment to Rubio Senate seat<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1937266\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Republicans could be facing a bitter primary battle in Florida after Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ron-desantis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Ron DeSantis<\/a> (R-FL) chose the state&rsquo;s attorney general to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3289152\/desantis-appoints-ashley-moody-replace-rubio-senate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"his pick to succeed\">replace<\/a> Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marco-rubio\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Marco Rubio<\/a> (R-FL) in the Senate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL), a Trump ally, suggested he might run for Ashley Moody&rsquo;s seat in 2026, with her support for President-elect Donald Trump as his litmus test.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re keeping our eye on the seat,&rdquo; Mills <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/kadiagoba\/status\/1879963978606301374\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">told<\/a> reporters on Thursday. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll see how she votes and how she supports the president.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Trump endorsed Moody&rsquo;s reelection campaign in 2022, and she is generally seen as a conservative, acting as a thorn in President Joe Biden&rsquo;s side on immigration in her capacity as Florida attorney general.<\/p>\n<p>But Moody also endorsed DeSantis over Trump in last year&rsquo;s presidential primary, a decision that has put other Republicans in Trump&rsquo;s bad graces. <\/p>\n<p>Moody <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AGAshleyMoody\/status\/1879967942625919453\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">promised to support<\/a> Trump in a statement released after DeSantis&rsquo;s appointment, and she has the backing of Rubio, who is on a glide path to be confirmed as his secretary of state.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Ultimately, the relationship will be about supporting the president&rsquo;s agenda,&rdquo; Rubio told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;He has a mandate to execute on great promises that he was elected to keep, and he intends to keep them. I have every reason to believe she&rsquo;ll be supportive of that agenda.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Still, there were signs that the MAGA Right may not be on board with the selection. <\/p>\n<p>Communications staff with the Republican National Committee circulated news of Mills mulling a primary bid to a curated listserv that included RNC leadership, staff, members, and surrogates, according to an email viewed by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>The RNC is co-chaired by Lara Trump, the incoming president&rsquo;s daughter-in-law, who expressed interest in the seat but withdrew from consideration last month.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Someone decided it was important to undercut this Senate appointment and amplify a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">message highlighting division<\/a> within the narrow Republican majority in Congress,&rdquo; said a Republican operative familiar with the RNC. &ldquo;The last time I checked, the RNC was supposed to be the Republican National Committee, not the Corey Mills campaign committee. Is this the approach the RNC is going to take over the next two years?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p id=\"block-33fb93d3-7b54-4cfb-ae97-6da0cecc522a\">The RNC and Moody&rsquo;s office did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Republican senators downplayed the consequences of Moody siding with DeSantis, noting her lawsuits against the Biden administration and handling of criminal charges against Ryan Routh, Donald Trump&rsquo;s second would-be assassin.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;An attorney general who supports her governor in her own state for president is almost a given,&rdquo; Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), right, listens as Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, left, speaks during a news conference in the aftermath of the apparent assassination attempt of Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo\/Lynne Sladky)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), another Trump confidant, noted he initially endorsed former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum for president over Trump. Burgum is now on track to be confirmed as Trump&rsquo;s Interior Department secretary. Several other past presidential rivals, including Rubio, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), are all now close allies.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There are people who literally ran against Donald Trump who worked very well with him in the Senate, and she&rsquo;ll have her opportunity to do the same thing,&rdquo; Cramer said of Moody.<\/p>\n<p>Still, Trump has not forgiven all of the Republicans who endorsed DeSantis, including ex-Rep. Bob Good, the former Freedom Caucus chairman who lost to a Trump-backed challenger in November.<\/p>\n<p>Mills told CNN he would consult with Trump on whether he should challenge Moody for the seat, hanging a primary threat over her head before she is even sworn into the chamber. He previously spoke with DeSantis about receiving the Senate appointment, as did Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL).<\/p>\n<p>Cammack&rsquo;s office declined to comment on whether she would consider a run. She <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-pushes-infrastructure-package-touts-promise-of-jobs-during-wisconsin-trip\/\" title=\"Biden Pushes Infrastructure Package, Touts Promise Of Jobs During Wisconsin Trip\">told reporters prior<\/a> to Moody&rsquo;s selection that the decision was premature and her ambitions would be contingent on &ldquo;how that person does.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3230853\/enemies-list-short-list-rubio-renaissance-landed-him-trump-cabinet\/\"><strong>FROM ENEMIES LIST TO SHORT LIST: RUBIO&rsquo;S RENAISSANCE LANDED HIM IN TRUMP&rsquo;S CABINET<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Senate Democrats, meanwhile, were antsy to see a contentious primary fight in a state Republicans have come to dominate.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Days into the start of the 2026 cycle, Republicans&rsquo; already challenging Senate map just became more difficult for them as they&rsquo;re forced to defend yet another seat,&rdquo; said David Bergstein, the spokesman for the campaign arm of Senate Democrats. &ldquo;Their candidate brings a long and controversial record that will face close scrutiny from the voters, along with a&nbsp;potential&nbsp;challenge from within her own party.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Cami Mondeaux contributed to this report. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1937266\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1937266\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ashley Moody faces a Trump loyalty test after being appointed to Rubio&#8217;s Senate seat, with potential primary challenges looming in Florida<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3619,"featured_media":2391409,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/ashley-moody-trump-litmus-test.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[48122,5894,35982,3634,32076],"class_list":["post-2391408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-ashley-moody","tag-politics","tag-senate-appointment","tag-trump","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/ashley-moody-trump-litmus-test.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2391408","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3619"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2391408"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2391408\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2391412,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2391408\/revisions\/2391412"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2391409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2391408"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2391408"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2391408"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}