News Service of Florida
President-elect Donald Trump looked to his adopted home state as he quickly started to fill in his administration, with Floridians drawing key appointments and some gasps.
Susie Wiles, who directed Trump’s campaign and is one of the most-respected operatives in Florida, was named White House chief of staff.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Miami-Dade County Republican and former Florida House speaker, was nominated for secretary of state.
Northeast Florida Congressman Mike Waltz, R-Fla., will serve as Trump’s national security adviser.
And Panhandle Republican Matt Gaetz, who in recent years became a national political lightning rod as he served in Congress, was picked as Trump’s attorney general.
“Many of us would argue that the nation has been broken for a couple of years, and Florida has been working,” Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power said. “So, now we get to put Floridians to work to fix our country. That makes us excited. Anytime you have one of your own team in that kind of leadership capacity, it brings a lot of excitement.”
Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried had a different take on it.
“Donald Trump is raiding our state for any Florida Man loyal to him, no matter how incompetent, unqualified, or extreme they may be,” Fried said in a statement.
While more Floridians could be tapped by Trump, not everyone got what they wanted this week.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., lost his bid Wednesday to become Senate majority leader, with GOP lawmakers choosing Sen. John Thune of South Dakota. And North Central Florida Congresswoman Kat Cammack lost her attempt to become House Republican Conference chairwoman, with U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain of Michigan selected instead.