TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — With reports of President-elect Donald Trump considering replacing his defense secretary pick with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, many people are wondering what would happen to the Sunshine State's highest office.
According to Florida Statute, if there's a vacancy in the governor's office, the lieutenant governor will assume the position.
Since 2018, Florida's lieutenant governor has been Jeanette Nuñez. She was DeSantis' running mate during both of his election campaigns.
Here's what to know about Nuñez.
Who is Florida's lieutenant governor?
Jeanette Nuñez is a native Floridian born and raised in Miami, according to her profile on the governor's website.
Nuñez became Florida's first Hispanic woman elected as lieutenant governor in 2018 and was subsequently reelected in 2022 along with DeSantis.
Before becoming lieutenant governor, Nuñez was a state representative in the Florida House of Representatives from 2010 to 2018 and was named speaker pro tempore from 2016 to 2018.
In 2010, she was among the founders of Maggie's List, a PAC focused on "electing conservative women to federal public office."
Before her political career, Nuñez was reportedly in the healthcare field, working for the Jackson Health System in 2004 as the state director for government relations. Then, in 2006, she was promoted to vice president of government relations, expanding her role to local, state and federal affairs.
She has reportedly served on several boards and been part of other healthcare organizations.
Nuñez graduated from Florida International University with a bachelor's degree in international relations and political science and a master's degree in public administration.
In her role as lieutenant governor, she is overseeing the Florida Department of Health and is the chair of Space Florida. She is also the chair of Florida's Cybersecurity Task Force and a member of Florida's Council on Human Trafficking.
Nuñez is reportedly married to her husband, Adrian, and has three children.
