State Florida hopes to assume (5)
I believe the answer is:
idaho
'state' is the definition.
(I know that Idaho is a American state)
'florida hopes to assume' is the wordplay.
'to assume' indicates a hidden word (I've seen 'assuming' mean this (the answer is assumed or held by the clue)).
'IDAHO' can be found hidden inside 'florida hopes'.
(Other definitions for idaho that I've seen before include "State of north-west USA" , "US state in the Rocky Mountains" , "US state bordering Canada" , "found in America" , "My Own Private -- (1991 film)" .)