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| Marco Rubio to seek re-election to Florida Senate seat | Marco Rubio to seek re-election to Florida Senate seat |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Marco Rubio will seek re-election to a second term, he announced on Wednesday, marking a reversal from the Florida senator’s repeated vows to become a private citizen after the failure of his presidential campaign in March. | Marco Rubio will seek re-election to a second term, he announced on Wednesday, marking a reversal from the Florida senator’s repeated vows to become a private citizen after the failure of his presidential campaign in March. |
| “In politics, admitting you’ve changed your mind is not something most people like to do. But here it goes,” Rubio said in a statement. “I have decided to seek re-election to the United States Senate.” | “In politics, admitting you’ve changed your mind is not something most people like to do. But here it goes,” Rubio said in a statement. “I have decided to seek re-election to the United States Senate.” |
| Rubio’s decision, which will shake up one of the most competitive Senate races in the country, caps off weeks of speculation about his political future. It also provides a boon to Republicans who mounted a campaign to draft Rubio into the Florida contest, seeing him as one of their best hopes to retain a majority in the Senate. | Rubio’s decision, which will shake up one of the most competitive Senate races in the country, caps off weeks of speculation about his political future. It also provides a boon to Republicans who mounted a campaign to draft Rubio into the Florida contest, seeing him as one of their best hopes to retain a majority in the Senate. |
| Rubio acknowledged in his announcement that he was falling back on a pledge to leave the Senate in January, but cited his dissatisfaction with the two presumptive presidential nominees as reason to stay in the chamber and try to shape the direction of the country. | Rubio acknowledged in his announcement that he was falling back on a pledge to leave the Senate in January, but cited his dissatisfaction with the two presumptive presidential nominees as reason to stay in the chamber and try to shape the direction of the country. |
| “I have often said that the US Senate can be a frustrating place. And it’s true,” Rubio said. “After witnessing the gridlock that grips Washington, I think just about every American – Democrat or Republican – would agree.” | “I have often said that the US Senate can be a frustrating place. And it’s true,” Rubio said. “After witnessing the gridlock that grips Washington, I think just about every American – Democrat or Republican – would agree.” |
| But control of the Senate, he added, “may very well come down to the race in Florida”. | But control of the Senate, he added, “may very well come down to the race in Florida”. |
| “That means the future of the supreme court will be determined by the Florida Senate seat. It means the future of the disastrous Iran nuclear deal will be determined by the Florida Senate seat. It means the direction of our country’s fiscal and economic policies will be determined by this Senate seat. The stakes for our nation could not be higher.” | “That means the future of the supreme court will be determined by the Florida Senate seat. It means the future of the disastrous Iran nuclear deal will be determined by the Florida Senate seat. It means the direction of our country’s fiscal and economic policies will be determined by this Senate seat. The stakes for our nation could not be higher.” |
| Last week, Rubio also cited the terrorist attack in Orlando as an event that led him to rethink his role in public service. After weeks of insisting he had not changed his mind, the senator told reporters on Capitol Hill he was headed home to have an earnest discussion with his family and would return with a final verdict. | Last week, Rubio also cited the terrorist attack in Orlando as an event that led him to rethink his role in public service. After weeks of insisting he had not changed his mind, the senator told reporters on Capitol Hill he was headed home to have an earnest discussion with his family and would return with a final verdict. |
| Rubio’s decision, two days before Florida’s 24 June filing deadline, will have significant repercussions for a Senate race that comprises a crowded Republican field. It has already led to the ouster of Florida’s lieutenant governor, Carlos Lopez-Cantera, a close friend of Rubio’s for more than 20 years. Rubio had cited his loyalty to Lopez-Cantera as one of the main reasons he was reticent to enter the race – but following the Orlando massacre, it was reportedly Lopez-Cantera who urged Rubio to reconsider re-election. | Rubio’s decision, two days before Florida’s 24 June filing deadline, will have significant repercussions for a Senate race that comprises a crowded Republican field. It has already led to the ouster of Florida’s lieutenant governor, Carlos Lopez-Cantera, a close friend of Rubio’s for more than 20 years. Rubio had cited his loyalty to Lopez-Cantera as one of the main reasons he was reticent to enter the race – but following the Orlando massacre, it was reportedly Lopez-Cantera who urged Rubio to reconsider re-election. |
| David Jolly, a congresswoman who was seeking Rubio’s seat, announced late last week that he would drop out of the race. Ron DeSantis, also a representative from Florida, had said he would re-evaluate his options if Rubio decided to run. | David Jolly, a congresswoman who was seeking Rubio’s seat, announced late last week that he would drop out of the race. Ron DeSantis, also a representative from Florida, had said he would re-evaluate his options if Rubio decided to run. |
| At least one candidate, businessman Carlos Beruff, signaled that a primary would not be as smooth as Rubio and his allies might hope. Reacting to Rubio’s announcement, Beruff said voters were fed up with the status quo. | At least one candidate, businessman Carlos Beruff, signaled that a primary would not be as smooth as Rubio and his allies might hope. Reacting to Rubio’s announcement, Beruff said voters were fed up with the status quo. |
| “Career politicians like Marco Rubio worry more about keeping the job than doing the job and are constantly looking for their next political promotion,” he said. “This isn’t Marco Rubio’s seat, this is Florida’s seat.” | “Career politicians like Marco Rubio worry more about keeping the job than doing the job and are constantly looking for their next political promotion,” he said. “This isn’t Marco Rubio’s seat, this is Florida’s seat.” |
| “The power brokers in Washington think they can control this race. They think they can tell the voters of Florida who their candidates are,” Beruff added. “But the voters of Florida will not obey them.” | “The power brokers in Washington think they can control this race. They think they can tell the voters of Florida who their candidates are,” Beruff added. “But the voters of Florida will not obey them.” |
| During the Republican presidential primary, Rubio was walloped by Donald Trump in his home state – leading to the termination of his campaign in March. Rubio won just one of Florida’s 67 counties, his home of Miami-Dade, in a bruising loss that foreshadowed the challenges he might face in his bid to hold on to his Senate seat. | During the Republican presidential primary, Rubio was walloped by Donald Trump in his home state – leading to the termination of his campaign in March. Rubio won just one of Florida’s 67 counties, his home of Miami-Dade, in a bruising loss that foreshadowed the challenges he might face in his bid to hold on to his Senate seat. |
| Polling has none the less shown Rubio as the most competitive Republican contender against Patrick Murphy, the most likely Democratic opponent in November. | Polling has none the less shown Rubio as the most competitive Republican contender against Patrick Murphy, the most likely Democratic opponent in November. |
| In a sign of an ugly battle ahead, Murphy over the weekend attacked Rubio as one of the country’s “most homophobic” senators, saying the senator was exploiting the mass shooting at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando that left 49 dead and another 53 injured. | In a sign of an ugly battle ahead, Murphy over the weekend attacked Rubio as one of the country’s “most homophobic” senators, saying the senator was exploiting the mass shooting at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando that left 49 dead and another 53 injured. |
| Murphy responded swiftly to Rubio’s re-election news on Wednesday with a statement dubbing the senator as “only out for himself”. | Murphy responded swiftly to Rubio’s re-election news on Wednesday with a statement dubbing the senator as “only out for himself”. |
| “Marco Rubio abandoned his constituents, and now he’s treating them like a consolation prize,” Murphy said. | “Marco Rubio abandoned his constituents, and now he’s treating them like a consolation prize,” Murphy said. |
| Democrats are eager to seize upon Rubio’s prior criticisms of the Senate while running for president. During his campaign, Rubio routinely sought to tap into voter frustration with Washington by expressing his own disenchantment with political leaders in both parties. | Democrats are eager to seize upon Rubio’s prior criticisms of the Senate while running for president. During his campaign, Rubio routinely sought to tap into voter frustration with Washington by expressing his own disenchantment with political leaders in both parties. |
| “Never in our history has Washington been more out of touch,” he declared. | “Never in our history has Washington been more out of touch,” he declared. |
| Defending his then abysmal attendance record in the Senate, Rubio in essence made the case that the body had little influence in moving policy. | |
| “I have missed votes this year,” Rubio said at a Republican debate in October. “You know why? Because while as a senator I can help shape the agenda. Only a president can set the agenda. | |
| “We’re not going to fix America with senators and congressmen,” he added. | |
| But after his devastating loss in the Florida primary, Rubio returned to the Senate with renewed vigor, and has squarely focused on issues affecting the state, including the Zika virus, the Puerto Rico debt crisis and sub-par publicly subsidized housing. | But after his devastating loss in the Florida primary, Rubio returned to the Senate with renewed vigor, and has squarely focused on issues affecting the state, including the Zika virus, the Puerto Rico debt crisis and sub-par publicly subsidized housing. |
| Whether it will be enough to persuade voters a second time remains to be seen. While victory would help Rubio secure a triumphant comeback, a second loss in his home state could all but end his political career. | Whether it will be enough to persuade voters a second time remains to be seen. While victory would help Rubio secure a triumphant comeback, a second loss in his home state could all but end his political career. |