Ron DeSantis has appointed Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to be the state's next ... and the first in nearly 40 years; Republican Paula Hawkins served in the chamber from 1981-1987.

Ashley Moody was sworn in as a U.S. senator on Tuesday ... becomes the second woman to represent Florida in the U.S. Senate, after Paula Hawkins, a Republican who served one term in the 1980s.

“Ashley Moody has been Ron’s personal lapdog from ... following Republican Paula Hawkins of Winter Park. Hawkins served a single term from 1981 to 1987. DeSantis’ selection of Moody, which ...