CLEVELAND — Two from the former president Donald TrumpIt is vice presidential candidates will be accompanied by heavy political complications: Republican governors who will choose their successors.
If Trump goes with Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, Governor. Ron DeSantis would be in line to select his replacement — perhaps immediately if Rubio resigns and moves to avoid the constitutional logjam of having both candidates on the ticket residing in the same state. If Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio becomes vice president, governor. Mike DeWine would choose a new senator.
The two governors have recent, eventful stories with Trump, raising doubts about whether the people they appoint would meet the often rigid right-wing standards of his MAGA movement. And while the succession dynamic won’t necessarily hurt Rubio or Vance’s chances of being selected, it is the subject of speculative conversations in both states.
DeSantis and Trump are emerging from a bitter clash for the GOP presidential nomination. While there are signs of detente, enough trust issues remain that the idea of handing DeSantis the Senate appointment power is one that Trump world approaches with caution.
“Trump doesn’t want to give this nomination to DeSantis,” a Trump confidant told NBC News. “It’s something under study.”
In Ohio, Trump campaigned vigorously against the DeWine-backed candidate, state Sen. Matt Dolan, in a recent GOP Senate primary, calling DeWine a crusty avatar of the establishment and a RINO, or Republican in Name Only. Many believe Dolan, who lost the primary to Trump-backed Bernie Moreno, would be on DeWine’s shortlist to succeed Vance.
“I don’t think Gov. DeWine is really concerned about President Trump’s thoughts or what he thinks,” said former Rep. Jim Renacci, who lost a 2022 primary to DeWine and now chairs the Party Medina County Republican. “He is in his last term. He doesn’t need the former president’s blessing.”
In either case, a nomination for DeSantis or DeWine would be interim, until the next statewide election is held.
But there might be a way to limit DeSantis’ influence on the choice. The Trump confidant described a scenario in Florida: first reported by The Bulwark, in which Rubio would resign from the Senate immediately after being asked by Trump. The resignation would be early enough to trigger a special election for the seat. DeSantis would most likely appoint someone until the special election is held, but it would be for a limited time.
A Trump ally who discussed vice presidential options directly with Trump said Rubio “has the most potential but is the biggest bank hit,” meaning he checks many of the boxes Trump wants checked , but that the potential choice would carry risks.
“Marco speaks MAGA in Spanish very well,” the person said.
Trump and DeSantis were considered close after Trump supported DeSantis’ bid for governor in 2018. But their relationship exploded in a very public way…
