Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of US President-elect Donald Trump, has announced that she has withdrawn her name from consideration for a seat in the US Senate to replace outgoing Senator Marco Rubio. This month, Lara stepped down from co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) which led to the speculations that she might enter the US Senate by replacing Florida Senator Rubio, who is set to resign as and when Donald Trump takes office on January 20 as the president-elect has nominated him for secretary of state.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is poised to pick a replacement for Rubio, according to a report by Reuters. In an X post, Lara Trump said “After an incredible amount of thought, contemplation, and encouragement from so many, I have decided to remove my name from consideration for the United States Senate.” Elected as RNC co-chair in March, Trump was a key player in the GOP retaking the White House and control of the Senate, while maintaining a narrow House majority. What she does next could shape Republican politics, given her elevated political profile and her ties to the incoming president.

The idea of placing a Trump family member in the Senate had been backed by some Republicans, including Maye Musk, mother of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who Trump has named co-head of a group tasked with reduce federal spending and regulations during his second term as president. Rubio is expected to be swiftly confirmed to his new post by his Senate colleagues. DeSantis has said that Floridians are likely to know their next senator by the beginning of January.