Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to sign Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, in Lynn Haven, Fla.
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Sanders endorsed anti-establishment candidate Tim Canova in the 23rd House District around Miami, but he lost to Wasserman Schulz by almost 14 percentage points.
Rubio, who abandoned his presidential campaign in March, cleared the initial hurdle in his battle for a second six-year term in the U.S. Senate. Former state Sen. Al Lawson won the Democratic nomination in her stead.
Also in Florida, U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz overcame a challenger – and the embarrassment of being stripped last month of her job as head of the Democratic National Committee – and will get a shot at a seventh House term in the November 8 general elections.
After weeks of pressure, Rubio did just that, and is now expected to win Tuesday’s primary handily after all but one of the other candidates bowed out of the race.
Murphy has criticized Rubio as caring more about his political ambitions then his constituents, while Republicans have criticized Murphy for embellishing his resume and lack of experience.
He called Murphy an old-fashioned liberal who had a sense of entitlement.
“No one can make that commitment because you don’t know what the future’s going to hold in your life”, he told CNN Tuesday. “That’s a hard thing to achieve in a Congress that’s been as ineffective as this one has been over the last 10 years”.
Even before his primary win, Murphy had been looking past his fight against Rep. Alan Grayson. Can Murphy overcome his disadvantages and unseat Rubio? He wasn’t willing to say for sure whether he would stay for his full six-year term. Marco Rubio and Sen.
Rubio had promised not to seek reelection, but after his failed presidential run, he reconsidered.
The incumbent won 57 percent of the vote to Mr. Canova’s 43 percent with 56 percent of precincts reporting, according to The Associated Press.
Rubio will face off against Rep. Patrick Murphy in the November election. Murphy has the backing of President Barack Obama and other Democratic Party leaders.
Despite being trounced by Trump in Florida’s presidential primary earlier this year, Rubio was still the easy choice for most Southwest Florida Republicans on Tuesday.
Rubio looked ahead to November Tuesday night, calling on Murphy to take him on in a series of six debates. If Hillary Clinton defeats Donald Trump and Democrats gain four seats, they take control.
Both men succeeded by giving Trump a tepid, nearly grudging endorsement – but refused to appear on the campaign stage with him or defend the billionaire’s controversial stands and statements.
Rubio brings instant star power that the five Republicans who initially sought to replace him lacked.
Rubio spoke about an hour later and said Murphy has lied about his education and his career and is only successful because of his wealthy father. Marco Rubio for the Florida Senate seat.
Florida Public Radio will simulcast the debate, which also is expected to be broadcast on TV stations throughout the state. “Over the past year, I have met and listened to so many hardworking families from across our state”. Florida will eventually send at least eight new House members to Washington.
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Republicans now hold a 54-46 seat majority in the Senate.
