DeSantis aims to appoint Marco Rubio's Senate replacement by early January

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DeSantis aims to appoint Marco Rubio's Senate replacement by early January

2024-11-19 06:52 Last Updated At：07:01

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Floridians will likely know who their next U.S. senator will be by the beginning of January, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Monday.

With Florida's senior Sen. Marco Rubio tapped to be President-elect Donald Trump's secretary of state, it's up to the governor to appoint his replacement, should Rubio be confirmed by his colleagues in the Senate.

Under the U.S. Constitution and state law, the governor has the power to fill vacancies in the U.S. Senate, while voters decide who should fill vacancies in the U.S. House.

DeSantis is gathering names and conducting “preliminary vetting” after receiving “strong interest” from several potential picks, he posted on social media Monday. In the coming weeks, the governor plans to do more extensive vetting and candidate interviews.

“Florida deserves a Senator who will help President Trump deliver on his election mandate, be strong on immigration and border security, take on the entrenched bureaucracy and administrative state, reverse the nation’s fiscal decline, be animated by conservative principles, and has a proven record of results,” DeSantis posted on X.

Some Republicans in the state are pressuring DeSantis to appoint Lara Trump, including Florida Sen. Rick Scott, who voiced his support for the president-elect’s daughter-in-law on social media. Lara Trump is a co-chair of the Republican National Committee and lives in Palm Beach County with her husband Eric Trump.

“If I am tapped to serve in another capacity, it truly would be my honor,” Lara Trump said in a Fox News appearance over the weekend. “I have not been asked yet, but I certainly would strongly consider it if it is presented to me.”

Some Republican politicos say appointing a member of the president-elect's family to the Senate is a way for DeSantis to curry favor with his onetime rival for the GOP's presidential nomination, and score a win with Trump's dedicated supporters as the governor considers his own political future. The pick could also give Florida another direct line to the Trump White House.

Other names being floated include Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, Florida's Attorney General Ashley Moody and former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner.

Should Rubio be confirmed, his replacement would serve for two years until the next regularly scheduled election in 2026, at which point the seat would be up for election again.

Jaguars coach Doug Pederson says firing assistants during the season is 'a dangerous thing'

2024-11-19 06:55 Last Updated At：07:00

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jaguars coach Doug Pederson doesn’t believe in firing assistants during the season.

He didn’t do it during his five years in Philadelphia and doesn’t plan to in Jacksonville, not even after the worst loss in franchise history.

Coming off a 52-6 debacle at Detroit and heading into a bye week, Pederson said “everything’s on the table” in terms of making changes. But he also made it clear that keeping his staff intact is a priority.

“I think you got to be really, really careful,” Pederson said. “When you start pointing fingers at certain people, it’s a dangerous thing. And I’m not going to do that. Not doing it. Not right now.

“As a head coach in this league that’s going through what we’re going through, you’re pointing a finger. And if it’s going to be pointed, it needs to be pointed at me. Start with me. That’s enough on that.”

The Jaguars (2-9) could point fingers in any direction and find problems. They have lost four games in a row and 14 of 17.

Their offense mustered the fewest yards over a three-game stretch in franchise history. Jacksonville managed 528 yards in losses to Philadelphia (215), Minnesota (143) and Detroit (170).

Their defense, meanwhile, gave up the most yards over three games in the team’s 30 seasons. The unit allowed 1,494 yards to the Eagles (447), the Vikings (402) and the Lions (645).

So something, maybe everything, needs to be overhauled in Jacksonville. Owner Shad Khan, though, opted not to fire Pederson or general manager Trent Baalke the day after the franchise’s most lopsided loss.

“Football is a war of attrition at times,” veteran center Mitch Morse said. “Our team has been no exception to that, both on offense and defense. That’s part of the gig. You go in and you’ve got to battle with who you’ve got and rally around guys.

“You ask anyone in this locker room. You don’t expect to lose, but it’s how you respond to that. That’s going to be a great challenge.”

Special teams have been bright spots this season. Logan Cooke leads the NFL in net punting at 46.4 yards a kick. Rookie Cam Little has made 13 consecutive field goals, including a career-long 59-yarder against the Lions. And safety Daniel Thomas had Jacksonville’s top highlight when he dropped punt returner Kalif Raymond inside the 10-yard line.

Pederson said the Jaguars need to look into playing consecutive games in London every year. They won three in a row after playing back-to-back weeks in London in 2023 but eventually wore down and dropped five of six to miss the playoffs. They’re on a four-game skid now after splitting two games overseas.

“I think it’s something we need to take a look at where the bye is (after) 10 days over there,” Pederson said. “Having the bye early in the year? I don’t necessarily like that as much. But I think we need to take a look at where it is and the timing of it as we move forward.”

Rookie Brian Thomas Jr. caught five passes for 82 yards against the Lions, his best game in weeks. He had four receptions for 34 yards the previous two games combined, both while playing without Christian Kirk (broken collarbone).

Backup quarterback Mac Jones has struggled in two starts in place of Trevor Lawrence. He has completed 31 of 51 passes for 249 yards, with no touchdowns, three interceptions and four sacks.

Receiver Gabe Davis, who signed a three-year, $39 million contract in free agency, will miss the rest of the season after tearing the meniscus in his left knee. Davis has 20 receptions for 239 yards and two touchdowns. He will join Kirk on injured reserve.

1 – Jacksonville’s current spot in the 2025 NFL draft. If it holds, the Jaguars would have the top pick for the third time in five years.

The only questions that matter down the stretch: What will Khan do with Pederson and Baalke, and how will any potential changes make Lawrence better in 2025?

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl