President-elect Donald Trump’s decision to tap at least three House members and at least one senator to serve in his administration will set up special elections, adding an element of uncertainty to closely divided chambers.
The nomination of three-term Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to be secretary of State will first give an opportunity for GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis to appoint a new senator. According to the Congressional Research Service, the appointed senator would serve through the next general election.
The nomination would set up a special election in 2026, with Rubio’s current term set to run through 2028. DeSantis thus could appoint a placeholder or a senator who would seek to run in that special election for the last two years of the term.
