Federal Gov

Senate Seat 2

Next Election: November 2022

Description

Florida Senators are elected in a state-wide election for a six year term.

History

Florida was admitted to the union on March 3, 1845, and the first Senators David Levy Yulee and James Wescott, both Democrats, took their seats on July 1. Yulee, who lost re-election in 1851 but successfully captured the other seat in 1855, and Stephen Mallory both withdrew from the Senate in 1861 when Florida seceded. After the Civil War and reconstruction, Florida again sent Senators to Washington in 1868 when Republicans Adonijah Welch and Thomas W. Osborn were elected.

In the modern era, this seat was held by Republican Paula Hawkins from 1981-1987, Democrat Bob Graham from 1897-2005, and Republican Mel Martinez from 2005 to 2009 when he resigned early and Republican George LeMieux was appointed to finish his term by Governor Charlie Crist. The seat was won in 2010 by the incumbent, Republican Marco Rubio, who is now a 2016 Presidential candidate.

Demographics
Registered voters%Rep%DemSummary
13,457,26635.1%36.9%D + 2
%White%Black% Hispanic
63%13%17%

Marco Rubio (R)
INCUMBENT

Background

Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, was born in Miami in 1971 and grew up in West Miami and Las Vegas. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and the University of Miami Law School.

Entering politics at an early age, he was a West Miami City Commissioner, then a Florida House member who became Majority Whip, Majority Leader and Speaker of the House. In 2010, a long shot candidate for US Senate against Governor Charlie Crist, he rose from the grassroots and captured the nomination with 85% of the vote after Crist, fearing defeat, dropped his GOP party identifcation and ran as an independent. In the general, Rubio prevailed with 49% of the vote versus Democrat Kendrick Meeks (20%) and Crist (30%.)

In the early days of the 2010 campaign, he was a speaker at the formation rally of the South Florida Tea Party in West Palm Beach (April 2009) and received much "tea party" support.

Throughout his six year term though, much of that support wained as he became the figurehead for "Comprehensive" Immigration Reform and the "Gang of 8" bill with Democrat Chuck Schumer, a direction that was in contrast to his election year platform.

In 2015, he was a candidate for President in a crowded field of 17, lasting until the final four and exiting the race after an embarassing loss to Donald Trump in Florida, gaining only 27% of the vote in his home state.

After many declarations that he would not seek to keep his Senate seat, many Republicans entered the primary race. His abrupt about-face chased most of the field away except for Manatee County developer Carlos Beruff, who he defeated with 70% of the vote.

In the general election, Rubio defeated Democrat Patrick Murphy 52-44.

Copyright 2020, South Florida Grassroots Research, LLC.