Honestly, it's pretty easy to get confused about Florida's representation in D.C. lately. Things changed fast. If you're looking for Marco Rubio, you won't find him in the Senate anymore. He's moved on to one of the biggest jobs in the world—U.S. Secretary of State.
So, who is the senator of florida right now? As of early 2026, the two people holding those seats are Rick Scott and Ashley Moody.
It’s a bit of a new era for the Sunshine State. For the first time in a very long time, Florida has two Republican senators, and one of them didn't even get there by winning a typical election—at least, not yet. Here is the breakdown of how the seats look today and why the names might sound a little different than the last time you checked the ballot.
The Power Shift: Who Is the Senator of Florida Right Now?
To understand the current lineup, you have to look at the massive shake-up that happened at the start of 2025. When Donald Trump won his second term, he reached right into Florida's senior leadership and plucked Marco Rubio for his cabinet. Rubio had been in the Senate since 2011, basically a fixture of Florida politics.
When he was confirmed as Secretary of State on January 20, 2025, it left a massive hole.
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Governor Ron DeSantis didn't wait long to fill it. He appointed Ashley Moody, who was the state's Attorney General at the time, to take over Rubio’s seat. She’s only the second woman ever to represent Florida in the U.S. Senate. If you live in Florida, you probably know her name from her time as the state’s top prosecutor, where she was basically DeSantis’s right hand in most of his legal battles against the federal government.
Then you’ve got Rick Scott. He’s the "senior" senator now. Scott has been there since 2019, right after he finished his two terms as Governor. He just won a big re-election in November 2024, beating out Debbie Mucarsel-Powell by a pretty huge margin. Unlike the drama surrounding the other seat, Scott is settled in for a full six-year term that won't end until 2031.
Ashley Moody: The New Face in D.C.
Ashley Moody didn't just stumble into this role. She’s a fifth-generation Floridian from Plant City. Fun fact: she was actually the queen of the Florida Strawberry Festival back in the day. But don't let the small-town roots fool you; she’s a heavy hitter.
Before the Senate, she was a federal prosecutor and a circuit judge in Hillsborough County. DeSantis picked her because she’s a "law and order" type. Since taking the seat in January 2025, she’s been a loud voice for border security and "reining in" federal spending. She’s basically hit the ground running as a key ally for the Trump administration’s "America First" agenda.
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Rick Scott: The Veteran
Rick Scott is... well, he’s Rick Scott. You either love him or you don't, but you can't deny he knows how to win Florida. He’s won four statewide races now, and 2024 was his most decisive victory yet. He actually won Miami-Dade County, which used to be unthinkable for a Republican.
Lately, Scott has been focusing on his "Rescue America" plan and pushing for term limits for every member of Congress. He even tried to run for Senate Majority Leader recently, but that didn't quite go his way—Senator John Thune ended up taking that spot. Still, Scott is a massive force in the GOP and holds a ton of influence over how Florida’s interests are handled in Washington.
The 2026 Special Election Looming Large
Here is the kicker: Ashley Moody’s job isn't permanent. Not by a long shot.
Because she was appointed to fill Rubio’s vacancy, she has to defend that seat in a special election on November 3, 2026. Basically, she’s an incumbent who has never actually been elected to this specific office by the voters.
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The political world is already buzzing about this. Because the 2026 election is just for the remainder of Rubio's term, whoever wins will only serve for a couple of years before they have to run again in 2028. It’s a grueling cycle.
- Republican Primary: Scheduled for August 18, 2026. Moody is the frontrunner, but people like Jake Lang have already filed paperwork to challenge her.
- Democratic Side: It's a bit of a crowded field. Names like Alan Grayson (who seems to run for everything) and former school board member Jennifer Jenkins are in the mix.
- The Stakes: This is going to be one of the most expensive races in the country. Florida is no longer the "purple" swing state it used to be—it’s trending deep red—but Democrats are desperate to claw back some power here.
Common Misconceptions About Florida's Senators
People often think Marco Rubio is still the senator because he’s on the news every night. He’s not. He’s the Secretary of State. When you see him talking about foreign policy or sanctions on Venezuela, he’s doing that as a member of the executive branch, not the Senate.
Another weird thing people get wrong is the "seniority" part. Even though Ashley Moody is a big name, Rick Scott is the Senior Senator because he’s been there longer. In the Senate, seniority actually matters for things like committee assignments and where you get to sit.
What This Means for You
If you’re a Florida resident, your "point of contact" for federal issues (like help with a passport or Veterans Affairs) has shifted.
- Check the Websites: Rick Scott’s office is still the go-to for many long-term projects. Ashley Moody has taken over the constituent service infrastructure that Rubio used to run.
- Watch the 2026 Race: If you care about who represents you, the filing deadline is April 24, 2026. If you aren't registered to vote, you've got until October 5, 2026, to get that sorted before the special election.
- Voice Your Opinion: Both senators are very active on social media and through their official newsletters. Since Moody is technically "unelected" in this role, she’s likely to be very responsive to constituent feedback as she gears up for the 2026 campaign.
It’s a wild time in Florida politics. Between Rubio moving to the Cabinet and Moody stepping into the Senate, the landscape has completely shifted in just about twelve months. Keeping track of who is actually in office is the first step to making sure your voice gets heard in D.C.
Next Steps: You should check your current voter registration status through the Florida Department of State website to ensure you're eligible for the upcoming special election primaries in August. If you have specific issues with federal agencies, reaching out to Senator Rick Scott’s office is usually the most efficient way to start a congressional inquiry.