GOP panics as MIA Republican threatens down-ballot candidates in ruby red state

Florida Republicans are expressing dismay at the low-key re-election campaign of Senator Ashley Moody, who was appointed to her seat by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

According to a report from Politico, there are no concerns about Moody winning, but there are about turnout without President Donald Trump on the ticket.

Moody's cautious approach stands in stark contrast to other prominent Florida Republicans. Unlike Gov. Ron DeSantis or state Attorney General James Uthmeier, Moody has built her career without the combative, high-profile persona characteristic of the state party.

DeSantis appointed Moody in early 2025 to fill Marco Rubio's seat when he departed to lead the State Department. Now she faces her first election campaign to retain the position, "doing so with limited unscripted moments, a smattering of controlled campaign events and muted engagement on the state’s most contentious issues," Politico's Kimberly Leonard and Gary Fineout are reporting.

More than 30 Republican operatives, consultants, and donors expressed concerns about Moody's strategy. They worry her "cautious approach" could suppress turnout among core GOP voters and harm down-ballot Republicans.

Dan Eberhart, a GOP donor, complained, "I think she has been a great senator for Florida. I wish her campaign was more visible."

"She's not out there, and a lot of Republicans are concerned about it because she is at the top of the ticket. You can be risk averse, but you can't be too cautious," a GOP operative told Politico.

Moody has limited her public engagement significantly. She appears primarily on Newsmax and Fox News. She avoids taking questions from reporters in congressional hallways — a standard venue for senators to communicate positions on important votes.

County-level GOP volunteers reported that campaign signs receive a positive reception from voters, yet her campaign struggles to schedule local events. One GOP chair said Moody appeared "lulled into a false sense of security."

Another GOP leader summarized the frustration: "She has got all the cards in her favor. She's a sitting senator backed by the two most popular people in Florida: Trump and DeSantis. Yet despite all that, she seems incapable of capitalizing on it."