Peoria Standard

U.S. Representative Darin LaHood expressed approval for the appointment of Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State in a Facebook post dated November 15. LaHood said, "He will bring the same dedication to promoting American diplomacy as the next U.S. Secretary of State."

"Senator Marco Rubio will make an excellent Secretary of State," said Darin Lahood, according to Facebook. "As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I have seen up close his unwavering commitment to upholding democracy and freedom in the face of rising authoritarianism. He will bring the same dedication to promoting American diplomacy as the next U.S. Secretary of State. President-elect Trump made an outstanding decision selecting Senator Rubio as America's top diplomat."

According to NPR, President-elect Donald Trump announced last week that he had selected Senator Marco Rubio from Florida as his choice for Secretary of State during Trump's second term. "Marco is a Highly Respected Leader, and a very powerful Voice for Freedom. He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries. I look forward to working with Marco to Make America, and the World, Safe and Great Again!" Trump said in a news release issued on November 13.

Screenshot of U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood's Nov. 15 Facebook post | U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood Facebook page

Rubio would become the first Latino individual to hold this position if confirmed by the Senate. Elected to the Senate in 2010, Rubio ran for president in 2016 but lost to Trump in the primary elections, securing only 27% of the vote compared to Trump's 45.7% in Florida. Despite this loss, he won Washington D.C., Minnesota, and Puerto Rico according to the Associated Press.

The Associated Press reports that Rubio has served as vice chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and as a member of the Committee on Foreign Relations. He has discussed foreign military and economic threats, warning that China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran are uniting against the United States.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is preparing for Rubio's potential confirmation by planning his replacement in early January. The Associated Press reported on November 18 that DeSantis is vetting candidates after several individuals have shown interest. Possible replacements include Ashley Moody, Lara Trump, Paul Renner, and Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez.

Congressman Darin LaHood has represented Illinois since 2015; initially serving in the 18th Congressional District until redistricting placed him in the 16th District. His political career includes four years in the state senate from 2011-2015 and over nine years as a state and federal prosecutor.

LaHood holds degrees from Loras College and University of Illinois-Chicago John Marshall Law School and resides in Peoria with his wife.