TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Could Gov. Ron DeSantis be the next Florida politician to be tapped for the Trump administration?
According to CBS News, three sources familiar with the transition said that President-elect Donald Trump was mulling the decision to nominate DeSantis for the secretary of defense. The move comes as Trump’s original pick, Pete Hegseth, faces scrutiny on a range of allegations, including sexual misconduct.
Recommended Videos
DeSantis competed against Trump for the Presidential nomination in 2024, and if the governor accepts the nomination to lead the Pentagon, what does that mean for the next officeholder?
According to a Florida Statute, upon vacancy in the office of the governor, the lieutenant governor shall become governor.
Here are some key facts about Jeanette M. Nuñez, DeSantis’ second-in-command.
If DeSantis indeed leaves the Sunshine State, Nuñez would be the first female governor of Florida.
She would serve the remaining two years of DeSantis’ term and her promotion would most likely impact the 2026 gubernatorial election, which already has a host of Republicans seen as serious candidates, like Attorney General Ashley Moody and Matt Gaetz.
“With a Cuban-American and South Florida base, it will be tough to deny her the nomination,” said Dr. Jim Clark, University of Central Florida history professor and News 6 political analyst.
Born and raised in Miami, Nuñez was named Republican Ron DeSantis’ running mate in 2018. Prior to being elected, she served as a state representative of the Florida House of Representatives from 2010 to 2018 and was named Speaker Pro Tempore from 2016 to 2018.
Nuñez began her healthcare career working at Jackson Health System in 2004 as the State Director for Government Relations. In 2006, she was promoted to Vice President of Government Relations overseeing local, state, and federal affairs. She has served on numerous boards and healthcare organizations. In 2010, Nuñez became Vice President of Community Affairs for Kendall Regional and Aventura Hospitals and Medical Centers.
As lieutenant governor, Nuñez oversees the Florida Department of Health, as well as serving as the Chair of Space Florida. Additionally, she currently serves as Chair of Florida’s Cybersecurity Task Force and is also a member of the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking.
A graduate of Florida International University, Nuñez earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Political Science and a master’s degree in Public Administration. She is married to her husband, Adrian Nuñez, and together they have three children.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: