Marco Rubio

Republican senior Senator of Florida

Senator
Florida
January 5, 2011 - January 3, 2017
Senator
Florida
January 3, 2017 - January 3, 2023
Senator
Florida
January 3, 2023 - January 20, 2025

202-224-3041

rubio.senate.gov

Congresses Served

Senate Terms

May 28, 1971 (53 years old)

Birthday

Served as the senior United States senator since 2011
Previously served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives from 2006 to 2008
Ran for the Republican nomination for President of the United States in 2016, winning in Minnesota, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico
Cuban American from Miami, Florida
Served as a city commissioner for West Miami in the 1990s before being elected to the Florida House of Representatives
Taught at Florida International University after leaving the Florida legislature
Elected to the U.S. Senate in a three-way race in 2010
Launched a presidential bid in April 2015, suspended his campaign in March 2016 after losing the Florida Republican primary
Endorsed Donald Trump before the 2016 general election and was supportive of his presidency
Described as having significant influence on U.S. policy on Latin America during the Trump administration
Re-elected to the Senate in 2016 and 2022
Parents were Cuban immigrants who came to the United States in 1956
Had a close relationship with his maternal grandfather, who immigrated from Cuba
Attended South Miami Senior High School, Tarkio College on a football scholarship, Santa Fe Community College, and earned a BA from the University of Florida and a JD from the University of Miami School of Law
Interned for U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and worked on Bob Dole’s 1996 presidential campaign
Advocated for tax cuts and early childhood education during his political career
As Florida House Speaker, initiated the “100 Innovative Ideas For Florida’s Future” project
Supported legislation for farmworkers, in-state tuition rates for children of undocumented immigrants, and opposed expanding police detention powers post-9/11
Requested legislative earmarks totaling about $145 million for 2001 and 2002
Involved in efforts to promote literacy and mentoring for black children and others
Cleared by the Florida Commission on Ethics in 2012 regarding use of a Republican Party of Florida American Express card
Returned to teach at Florida International University as an adjunct professor after his Senate election
Supported U.S. participation in the military campaign in Libya and was critical of the Obama administration’s handling of the situation
Opposed the Budget Control Act of 2011 and the 2012 “fiscal cliff” resolutions
Part of the bipartisan “Gang of Eight” senators that crafted comprehensive immigration reform legislation in 2013
Voted against an expansion of background checks for gun purchases in 2013
Pushed for the elimination of “risk corridors” under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as a senator