Not long after former representative Matt Gaetz (R., Fla.) announced earlier this afternoon that he is withdrawing his name from consideration for attorney general in the next administration, reporters were asking U.S. senators about whether Florida governor Ron DeSantis should consider appointing the controversial Republican to the seat held by Senator Marco Rubio, Trump’s nominee for secretary of state.

A DeSantis spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NR about whether he is considering Gaetz. But a source familiar with the governor’s thinking was adamant that Gaetz is not on the list of candidates: “He won’t appoint Matt,” this source tells NR.

This is not surprising news, given the cloud of controversy that surrounds Gaetz and the long list of Republican candidates DeSantis is already vetting for the seat. As NR reported last week, top candidates for the role include the president-elect’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, Florida attorney general Ashley Moody, Florida lieutenant governor Jeanette Nuñez, and DeSantis’s chief of staff, James Uthmeier. The governor said in a social media statement earlier this week that he expects to announce his pick in early January.

Rubio was reelected in 2022. That means whoever replaces him (assuming he is confirmed for the cabinet position) will serve until 2026, when a special election will ensue to determine who holds the seat for the rest of his term until 2028.