With Donald Trump in the process of naming prospective nominees for his second presidential administration, vacancies are soon going to be open in Congress.
Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio is being eyed for Secretary of State, so his Senate position could be up for grabs. Rubio was reelected in 2022—with four years remaining on his six-year term.
Florida's constitution allows Governor Ron DeSantis to select someone to fill any federal congressional vacancies. However, the appointee only holds the seat until the next regularly scheduled general election in 2025 at which point a special election would be held to fill the seat for the remainder of the term.
But some GOP members already have someone in mind to fill Rubio's not yet vacant seat—Republican National Committee (RNC) co-chair and daughter-in-law of Donald, Lara Trump.
Alabama Republican Senator Katie Britt told Axios:
"[Lara Trump] just got off a historic win."
"She understands the America First agenda. For me, I think she would be a tremendous pick, a voice for hard working families and another mom of school aged kids that understands what we're up against, and that's to fight to protect the American dream."
But not everyone agrees with the suggestion.
But what in Lara Trump's work or volunteer history qualifies her for a Senate seat?
Lara Yunaska Trump graduated with a BA in communications from North Carolina State University, then earned a degree in pastry arts from the French Culinary Institute in New York.
She worked as a personal trainer and as a producer for Inside Edition. Lara was also a board member of her husband Eric Trump's charitable foundation. That charity was forced to cease operations in 2016 for repeated, rampant misuse of funds.
Aside from her brief tenure at the RNC, Lara Trump's most recent role was as an articulate Trump spokesperson in Ivanka Trump's absence.
Neither her husband Eric Trump nor her brother-in-law Donald Trump Jr. had any success filling the position after Ivanka and husband Jared Kushner distanced themselves after Trump's 2020 election loss.
It's unclear if those suggesting Lara Trump as a Rubio replacement are serious or just looking to score points with her father-in-law.
But professional qualifications may be a moot point.
Lara Trump may not be eligible for a Florida Senate seat. She is a registered voter in North Carolina, not Florida.
There are also concerns her length of residency in Florida will take her off any Senate appointment short-list.
But one certainly wouldn't put it past DeSantis to try to suck up to the incoming President.
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