The worst-kept secret in Washington is out: Sen. Marco Rubio will run for re-election.
The Florida Republican, one of the last Republican presidential candidates to drop out of this year’s primary, has reversed his earlier decision not to seek a second term, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday morning.
A call to Rubio’s press office Wednesday morning went unanswered. The Post reported Rubio will make his announcement sometime Wednesday.
Mitch McConnell and other Republican Senate leaders said at a Tuesday press conference that they hoped Rubio would seek re-election.
“Everybody realizes that it’s an important state and that Marco’s the best person to keep that state a Republican seat,” said John Thune, a senator from South Dakota and the number three Republican in the senate. “Many people are very fond of Marco on a personal level and would like to see him stay around the Senate.”
Republicans had pressed Rubio to run, hoping he would help them hold onto a crucial Senate seat, but he’d previously been wary. A little more than a month ago, he tweeted, “I have only said like 10000 times I will be a private citizen in January.”
While heading to the Senate on Tuesday, Rubio was asked if he would seek reelection as he walked into an elevator. He did not respond and grinned as the doors closed.
Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee dubbed him “Little Marco” earlier this year, while Rubio made fun of Trump’s hands, a move he later said he regretted. But the two appear to have reconciled, as Trump recently tweeted that Rubio should reverse course and run for reelection.
Rubio’s campaign website, marcorubio.com, was “under maintenance” as of Wednesday morning.
Marco Rubio's Life in Pictures
Marco Rubio and his father outside his parents first home in Miami, Fla., 1972.Courtesy Senator Marco RubioMarco Rubio in 6th grade.Courtesy Senator Marco RubioMarco Rubio during the Southern Nevada youth football conference, Yesco Cavaliers in Las Vegas, Nev., 1982Courtesy Senator Marco RubioHigh school photograph of Marco Rubio from his 1989 yearbook.Courtesy South Miami Senior High SchoolSouth Miami Senior High yearbook photo of Marco Rubio in 1989.Courtesy South Miami Senior High SchoolFrom right Marco Rubio with his mother and sister Veronica during his graduation from the University of Miami law school in 1996. Veronica graduated from Florida international university bachelor’s degree.Courtesy Senator Marco RubioMarco Rubio with his wife, Jeanette and his parents on his wedding day on Oct. 17, 1998.Courtesy Senator Marco RubioJeanette Rubio and Marco Rubio holding their youngest child Amanda Rubio in 2000.Courtesy Senator Marco RubioThen representative Marco Rubio talks with a colleague during House session in Tallahassee, Fla., on April 1, 2004. At age 32, Rubio was one of the youngest legislators.Phil Coale—APMarco Rubio greets Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, on his way to being sworn in as the new speaker of the Florida House in Tallahassee, Fla., on Nov. 21, 2006.Steve Cannon—APVice President Joe Biden swears in Senator Marco Rubio to the U.S. Senate, as his wife, Jeanette Rubio looks on, in Washington, on Jan. 5, 2010 .Mary F. Calvert—MCT/Getty ImagesMarco Rubio with his son, Anthony Rubio, father, Mario Rubio and daughter Amanda Rubio as he signs election documents officially qualifying him as a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Miami, Fla., on April 27, 2010.Joe Raedle—Getty ImagesFrom left, Marco Rubio, Charlie Crist and Kendrick Meek greet each other before the start of their debate at the studios of WESH-TV in Winter Park, Fla., on Oct. 26, 2010.Joe Burbank—MCT/Getty ImagesThen Florida Republican U.S. Senate nominee Marco Rubio celebrates with his family after winning the election in Coral Gables, Fla., on Nov. 2, 2010.Mike Stocker—MCT/Getty ImagesMarco Rubio and his sons Anthony, 5, right, and Dominic, 3, make their way to a swearing in ceremony for the 112th Congress in the Old Senate Chamber in Washington on Jan. 5, 2011.Tom Williams—Roll Call/Getty ImagesSenator Marco Rubio during a visit to the El Paso sector of the United States/Mexico border on Nov. 4, 2011.Courtesy Senator Marco RubioSenator Marco Rubio greets fans and signs copies of his book "An American Son" at Books and Books in Coral Gables, Fla., on June 30, 2012.Aaron Davidson—Getty ImagesFormer Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks with Senator Marco Rubio while flying from Pensacola to Orlando, Fla., on Oct. 27, 2012.Emmanuel Dunand—AFP/Getty ImagesSenator Marco Rubio listens to a question alongside Senator John McCain, Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Robert Menendez and Senator Dick Durbin during a press conference on an agreement for principles on comprehensive immigration reform framework at the US Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 28, 2013.Saul Loeb—AFP/Getty Images
