Hegseth’s nomination remains in jeopardy as Republican senators voice growing concerns about his past conduct with women and alcohol, which has Trump reportedly considering DeSantis as his backup replacement.

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Hegseth claims he’s not withdrawing his name from consideration despite reports that meetings with lawmakers are Thursday have been rescheduled. “I spoke to the president-elect this morning. He said keep going keep fighting. I’m behind you all the way,” Hegseth told CBS News Wednesday morning.

Still, if DeSantis moves up to lead the Defense Department, there would be the political equivalent of musical chairs.

“It would cause a seismic shift and the political gamesmanship about who wants to pursue which seat in 2026,” said Ford O’Connell, a Florida Republican strategist.

Lt. Gov. Jeanette Núñez (R-FL) would succeed DeSantis as the chief executive of Florida, according to state law. Núñez would almost certainly have the advantage in the 2026 race as the incumbent governor and would make history as the state’s first female governor.

But she will likely face stiff competition if former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz decides to run for governor after his attorney general bid flamed out last month, or if Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) decides to throw his hat in the race. (DeSantis is term-limited and could no longer run for governor in 2026.)

O’Connell, however, pushed back on Núñez becoming the de facto winner in 2026 if she succeeds DeSantis.

“I don’t think it’s going to help her be a front-runner because the bench is so deep in Florida. If someone like Byron Donalds were to get in that race, he’d automatically become the front runner,” he said.

A source familiar with Florida’s Republican scene told the Washington Examiner, “Some people are saying that Rick Scott might want to go back and be governor of Florida.”

Scott’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

But if he ran, it would complicate a race that could already feature Nuñez, Gaetz, and Byron Donalds.

However, the source claimed that if Gaetz and Donalds were to come to an agreement where “one chose to run for governor, the other chose to run for senator, they both could win” given Trump’s support for both candidates.

DeSantis was already weighing options to fill Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) seat after Trump tapped the senator as his Secretary of State nominee. The Florida governor could likely tap Lara Trump, the president-elect’s daughter-in-law and co-chair of the Republican National Committee, to replace Rubio.

“If I am appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and he feels that I’m the right fit to take over the U.S. Senate seat for Marco Rubio, those are big shoes to fill, but I would take it very seriously,” said Lara Trump at The Washington Post’s 2024 Global Women’s Summit in November.

There was some speculation DeSantis would appoint a placeholder to Rubio’s seat, such as his chief of staff James Uthmeier, and would then run for the Senate in 2026. But if he were Defense Secretary that position would place him in a prime position for a presidential run in 2028, although he would likely be challenging Vice President-elect J.D. Vance.

Dennis Lennox, a Republican strategist, expressed skepticism over DeSantis’s willingness to return to Washington after serving as a congressman from 2013 to 2018.

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“While the Pentagon is a plum gig, it’s hard to see how he could parlay that for something down the road. I suppose leaving the governorship early is the one way he can best position his lieutenant governor and heir presumptive, Jeanette Nuñez, against a Matt Gaetz or Byron Donalds,” Lennox said.

“But if that’s his objective then camping out in Marco Rubio’s Senate seat makes more sense. Going to the upper chamber would keep DeSantis on the scene until 2032, if J.D. Vance doesn’t keep the White House in 2028,” he added.

Floridian voters will also decide on April 1, 2025, who will fill Gaetz’s seat after his resignation from Congress. Trump endorsed Jimmy Patronis, the state’s chief financial officer, to replace Gaetz in the 1st Congressional District in a Truth Social post.

“As your next Congressman, Jimmy would work tirelessly alongside of me to grow our economy, secure our border, stop migrant crime, strengthen our incredible military/vets, restore American energy DOMINANCE, and defend our always under siege Second Amendment,” Trump said.  

“Should he decide to enter this Race, Jimmy Patronis has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, JIMMY, RUN!” he continued.

Patronis sent in his letter of resignation last month to run for the seat, which has a primary on Jan. 28, 2025, with April 1, 2025, as the scheduled date for the special election. His last day is March 31, 2025.

Floridians will also decide on who will replace Rep. Mike Waltz, who is leaving Congress to become Trump’s national security advisor. State Sen. Randy Fine received Trump’s backing for the 6th Congressional District and launched his bid last week.

Trump “needs fighters who will Make America Wealthy Again, Make American Safe Again, and someone who will stand up for Israel,” he wrote on X. “That is why today I’m announcing my candidacy for FL 6th Congressional District.”