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Marco Rubio
United States Senator from Florida
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2011Serving with Bill Nelson
Preceded by	George LeMieux
Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
In office January 2, 2007 – January 2, 2009
Preceded by	Allan Bense
Succeeded by	Ray Sansom
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 111th District
In office January 25, 2000 – January 2, 2009
Preceded by	Carlos Valdes
Succeeded by	Erik Fresen
Personal details
Born	Marco Antonio Rubio (1971-05-28) May 28, 1971 (age 53) Miami, Florida
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Jeanette Dousdebes
Children	4
Alma mater	Santa Fe Community College University of Florida (B.A.) University of Miami (J.D.)
Profession	Lawyer
Website	www.rubio.senate.gov

Marco Antonio Rubio (born May 28, 1971) is the junior United States Senator from Florida, serving since January 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives (2007–2009).

A native of Miami, Florida, Rubio is a graduate of the University of Florida and the University of Miami Law School. In the late 1990s, he served as a City Commissioner for West Miami and was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2000, representing the 111th House district. He was elected Speaker in November 2006.

Rubio announced a run for U.S. Senate in May 2009 after incumbent Republican Mel Martinez resigned. Initially trailing by double-digits against the incumbent Republican Governor Charlie Crist, Rubio eventually surpassed him in polling for the Republican nomination. Rubio won the Republican nomination after Crist opted instead for an independent run. In a three-way split against Crist and Democratic candidate Kendrick Meek, Rubio won the general election in November 2010 with 48.9 percent of the vote.

Although not a Tea Party candidate, Rubio has been called the "crown prince" of the Tea Party movement, primarily by the media. The term has been used to both praise and ridicule Rubio. He has been mentioned as a potential choice for the Republican vice presidential nomination in 2012 but has said he is not interested. In June 2012, it was reported that Romney was vetting Rubio as a possible running mate.

Early life, education, and early political career

Rubio was born in Miami, Florida, the second son and third child of Mario Rubio and Oria Garcia. His parents were Cubans who had immigrated to the United States in 1956 and were later naturalized as U.S. citizens in 1975. Rubio's grandfather immigrated to the U.S. in 1962 without a visa and was detained by immigration authorities. An immigration judge ordered Rubio's grandfather deported, but ultimately U.S. immigration authorities used their discretion to allow him to remain in the U.S. without a visa. The Associated Press reported that "no other immigration records exist for Garcia from 1962 until he applied for residency four years later" and concluded that he likely remained in the U.S. illegally during the intervening period.

Rubio's family was Roman Catholic, but from age 8 to age 11, he and his family attended The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while they lived in Las Vegas. He received his first communion as a Catholic in 1984, before moving back to Miami with his family a year later. He was confirmed and married in the Catholic Church.

Rubio attended South Miami Senior High School and graduated in 1989. He then attended Tarkio College for one year on a football scholarship from 1989 to 1990, before enrolling at Santa Fe Community College (now Santa Fe College). He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida in 1993, and his J.D. degree cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law in 1996.

While studying law, he interned for U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. He served as City Commissioner for West Miami,

Florida House of Representatives

Elections

Rubio was elected at the age of 28 to the Florida House of Representatives, representing Miami in Florida's 111th House District. He defeated Democrat Anastasia M. Garcia 72%-28%, or 64 votes, in a January 2000 special election. In November 2000, he won re-election unopposed. In 2002, he won re-election to a second full term unopposed. In 2004, he won re-election to a third full term with 66% of the vote. In 2006, he won re-election to a fourth full term unopposed.

Tenure

He was named Freshman of the Year by the Florida Petroleum Marketers Association.

He is the author of the book 100 Innovative Ideas for Florida's Future, which includes information that Rubio compiled while traveling around the state and talking with citizens. This was done through what Rubio calls "Idearaisers". Many of the issues that he pushed for in his first year as speaker came from ideas in this book. In 2007, Marco Rubio championed a major overhaul of the Florida tax system, arguing it would reduce property taxes and decrease the size of government.

During his tenure serving as Speaker of the Florida House, Rubio shared his residence with another Florida State Representative, David Rivera. The two men co-owned a home together in Tallahassee, which later fell into foreclosure after deferring months of mortgage payments. This issue surfaced in June 2010, during Rubio's run for the US Senate but was considered resolved according to Rubio's spokesman.

In December 2002, Rubio was appointed House Majority Leader by Speaker Johnnie Byrd. In November 2003, Rubio clinched the Speakership after State Representatives Dennis Baxley, Jeff Kottkamp, and Dennis A. Ross dropped out. He became the first Cuban American to become Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.

Committee assignments

2000

• Community Colleges & Career Prep
• Elder Affairs & Long-Term Care
• Finance & Taxation
• Joint Legislative Committee on Article V
• Real Property & Probate

2001-2003

• Banking
• Claims
• General Government Appropriations
• Health Regulation
• Procedural & Redistricting Council (Group A)
• Procedural & Redistricting Council (Group D)
• Select Committee of the Whole
• Select Committee on Security
• Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations

2004

• Appropriations
• Policy
• Select Committee of the Whole
• Select Committee on Affordable Housing

2005-2009

• Select Committee to Protect Private Property Rights (Chair)
• Fiscal Council
• Rules & Calendar Council
• Select Committee on Medicaid Reform
• Spaceport & Technology Committee

U.S. Senate

2010 election

On May 5, 2009, Rubio announced on his website that he planned to run for the United States Senate in 2010 for the Republican seat being vacated by Sen. Mel Martinez, who had resigned and been replaced by George LeMieux. Prior to the announcement, he had been meeting with fundraisers and supporters throughout the state. Initially trailing by double-digits against the incumbent Governor of his own party, Charlie Crist, Rubio eventually surpassed Crist in polling for the Republican nomination.

On April 28, 2010, Crist announced he would be running as an independent, effectively ceding the Republican nomination to Rubio. Several of Crist's top fundraisers, as well as Republican leadership, refused to support Crist after Rubio won the Republican nomination for the Senate.

On November 2, 2010, Marco Rubio won the general election with 48.9 percent of the vote to Crist's 29.7 and Democrat Kendrick Meek's 20.1. On May 20, 2011, Marco Rubio visited Puerto Rico's governor, Luis Fortuño, and made a statement of wanting to "represent the Puerto Ricans" since he already felt he owed those who had voted for him in the Florida election.

Following his victory in the elections, Rubio soon became the subject of speculation as a potential Republican candidate for the 2012 presidential election. Rubio stated shortly after taking office that he has no interest in running for president or vice president in 2012.

Tenure

Upon taking office, Rubio hired Cesar Conda, former lobbyist and policy adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney as his chief of staff.

Rubio cosponsored a resolution, which was passed, to declare September as National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month.

Rubio's amendment, co-sponsored by Joe Manchin, to allow employers to be exempted from newly mandated coverage for contraception, based on religious or moral grounds by such employers, did not pass the Senate.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
  • Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet
  • Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard
  • Subcommittee on Science and Space
  • Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security
• Committee on Foreign Relations
  • Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps and Narcotics Affairs (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs
  • Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs
  • Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection
• Select Committee on Intelligence
• Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Personal life

Rubio married Jeanette Dousdebes, a former bank teller and Miami Dolphins cheerleader, in 1997. She is of Colombian descent, and together they have four children named Amanda, Daniella, Anthony, and Dominic. Rubio and his family live in West Miami, Florida. Rubio attends Catholic Mass as well as a Southern Baptist church in West Kendall, Florida.

"Son of exiles"

In October 2011, the St. Petersburg Times and The Washington Post reported that Rubio's previous statements that his parents were forced to leave Cuba in 1959, after Fidel Castro came to power, were incorrect as they had in fact left Cuba in 1956 during the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. According to The Washington Post, Rubio's "embellishments" resonate with many voters in Florida, who would not be as impressed by his family being economic migrants seeking a better life in the U.S. instead of political refugees from a communist regime.

Rubio responded, "The real essence of my family's story is not about the date my parents first entered the United States. Or whether they traveled back and forth between the two nations. Or even the date they left Fidel Castro's Cuba forever and permanently settled here."

Electoral history

References

1. "Midterms 2010: Tea Party 'Crown Prince' Marco Rubio wins". The Daily Telegraph. London. November 3, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
2. Roig-Franzia, Manuel (June 15, 2012). "Five myths about Marco Rubio". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
3. Nordli, Brian (July 28, 2012). "Sen. Marco Rubio returns to his roots". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
4. Reyes, Raul (October 27, 2011). "Column: Rubio for veep? He's not ready". USA Today. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
5. Williams, Juan (April 6, 2012). "Why Marco Rubio has a tight grip on the GOP's future". Fox News. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
6. "Insiders Swoon Over Rubio for VP Nomination". National Journal. October 13, 2011. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
7. Gibson, Jake (October 5, 2011). "Senator Marco Rubio Says He Won't Be 2012 Vice Presidential Nominee". Fox News. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
8. Lemire, Jonathan (June 19, 2012). "Mitt Romney: Marco Rubio is being 'thoroughly' vetted by campaign as possible VP pick". Daily News. New York. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
9. Linkins, Jason (October 20, 2011). "Marco Rubio, Bobby Jindal Become Focus Of Bipartisan Birthers". The Huffington Post.
10. ^ Roig-Franzia, Manuel (October 21, 2011). "Marco Rubio's compelling family story embellishes facts, documents show". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
11. ^ "Marco Rubio's grandfather ordered deported to Cuba in 1962". Tequesta, FL: WPBF. April 25, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
12. Roig-Franzia, Manuel (June 17, 2012). "Marco Rubio's grandfather had difficult transition to U.S." The Washington Post. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
13. Burr, Thomas (June 18, 2012). "Marco Rubio's book explains why he left Mormonism". Salt Lake Tribune.
14. Marrapodi, Erin (February 23, 2012). "Sen. Marco Rubio's religious journey: Catholic to Mormon to Catholic to Baptist and Catholic". CNN. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
15. ^ "Representative Marco Rubio". Florida House of Representatives.
16. ^ O'Bryan, Jason (November 1, 2010). "What Is Marco Rubio's Religion?". Politics Daily. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
17. Montanaro, Domenico (February 23, 2012). "Rubio's Mormon past revealed". NBC News.
18. Munzenrieder, Kyle (February 23, 2012). "Tween Marco Rubio Was a Mormon, But Does Anyone Really Care?". Miami New Times.
19. "Biography – About Marco". rubio.senate.gov.
20. Clark, Lesley (January 5, 2011). "Miami's Marco Rubio becomes new Florida senator". Miami Herald. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
21. "Marco Rubio—Biography" (PDF). Republican Business Council. 2010. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
22. http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?p=2&tc=pg&AID=/20040405/NEWS/404050331/1004
23. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=35710
24. "Sun Sentinel report on Rubio". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
25. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=33133
26. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=5594
27. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=68885
28. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=297425
29. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4180
30. "Rubio claims 57 of his 100 ideas were made law by the Florida Legislature". Politifact. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
31. "Marco Rubio's U.S. Senate campaign grew out of his 2007 antitax roots". Tampa Bay Times. July 12, 2010. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
32. Bender, Michael C. (June 17, 2010). "Rubio faces foreclosure on Tally home; his campaign says it's resolved". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
33. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F7DC37DA1706DF7&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
34. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F832B87CC108EB4&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
35. http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031115/NEWS/211150381/1047
36. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4180&SessionId=71
37. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4180&SessionId=4
38. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4180&SessionId=36
39. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4180&SessionId=38
40. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4180&SessionId=42
41. Reinhard, Beth (March 5, 2009). "Marco Rubio quietly registers to run for U.S. Senate". The Miami Herald.
42. "Rubio Edges Crist In Florida Gop Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; President Obama Under Water As Voters Disapprove". Quinnipiac University. January 26, 2010.
43. "Election 2010: Florida Republican Primary for Senate". Rasmussen Reports. February 1, 2010. Archived from the original on February 9, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
44. Schwandt, Kimberly (April 28, 2010). "Crist to Run as Independent in FL Sen Race". Fox News. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
45. Romm, Tony (April 18, 2010). "McConnell: Crist would lose all GOP support if he ran as independent". The Hill. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
46. Martin, Jonathan; Catanese, David (April 17, 2010). "Top Charlie Crist supporters torn over indy bid". Politico. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
47. Farrington, Brendan; Kay, Jennifer (August 24, 2010). "Marco Rubio Wins Florida GOP Senate Primary". The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
48. Balz, Dan; Branigin, William (November 3, 2010). "2010 election results show Republicans winning the House, not the Senate". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
49. Martínez, Andrea (May 20, 2011). "Senador republicano visita a Fortuño". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). Guaynabo, PR. Retrieved May 20, 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
50. Knickerbocker, Brad (November 6, 2010). "President Obama, Marco Rubio face off on tax cuts". The Christian Science Monitor.
51. Goodman, Lee-Anne (November 5, 2010). "Florida's new senator seen as 'Great Right Hope'". Toronto Star.
52. Rahn, Will (January 10, 2011). "Marco Rubio: I want to be a senator, not president or vice president". The Daily Caller. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
53. Hayes, Stephen (January 28, 2011). "Marco Rubio Picks a Chief of Staff: Cesar Conda". The Weekly Standard. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
54. Voss, Laura (September 12, 2011). "Congress Dedicates September as National Spinal Cord Injury Month". Paralyzed Veterans of America.
55. "White House Attacks Marco Rubio's Contraception Bill". The Huffington Post. Associated Press. February 13, 2012.
56. Rettig, Jessica (May 4, 2010). "10 Things You Didn't Know About Marco Rubio". U.S. News and World Report.
57. http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/the-women-behind-the-men-who-would-be-floridas-senator/1112189
58. "Marco 101". Marco Rubio for US Senate.
59. Thompson, Damian (November 12, 2010). "Marco Rubio Tries to Still Debate Over Religion". The Telegraph. London.
60. "Rubio's income grew with his political clout, tax records show". Miami Herald. May 22, 2010.
61. "Marco Rubio: My family's flight from Castro". Politico. October 21, 2011.
62. "Marco Rubio's story". Los Angeles Times. October 30, 2011.

External links

• Senator Marco Rubio official U.S. Senate website
• Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate official campaign site
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Collected news and commentary at The Washington Post

v t e Current United States senators
President: ▌ Kamala Harris (D) ‧ President pro tempore: ▌ Patty Murray (D)
AL: ▌ Tuberville (R)⎣ ▌ Britt (R) AK: ▌ Murkowski (R)⎣ ▌ Sullivan (R) AZ: ▌ Sinema (I)⎣ ▌ Kelly (D) AR: ▌ Boozman (R)⎣ ▌ Cotton (R) CA: ▌ Padilla (D)⎣ ▌ Schiff (D) CO: ▌ Bennet (D)⎣ ▌ Hickenlooper (D) CT: ▌ Blumenthal (D)⎣ ▌ Murphy (D) DE: ▌ Carper (D)⎣ ▌ Coons (D) FL: ▌ Rubio (R)⎣ ▌ R. Scott (R) GA: ▌ Ossoff (D)⎣ ▌ Warnock (D) HI: ▌ Schatz (D)⎣ ▌ Hirono (D) ID: ▌ Crapo (R)⎣ ▌ Risch (R) IL: ▌ Durbin (D)⎣ ▌ Duckworth (D) IN: ▌ Young (R)⎣ ▌ Braun (R) IA: ▌ Grassley (R)⎣ ▌ Ernst (R) KS: ▌ Moran (R)⎣ ▌ Marshall (R) KY: ▌ McConnell (R)⎣ ▌ Paul (R) LA: ▌ Cassidy (R)⎣ ▌ Kennedy (R) ME: ▌ Collins (R)⎣ ▌ King (I) MD: ▌ Cardin (D)⎣ ▌ Van Hollen (D) MA: ▌ Warren (D)⎣ ▌ Markey (D) MI: ▌ Stabenow (D)⎣ ▌ Peters (D) MN: ▌ Klobuchar (D)⎣ ▌ Smith (D) MS: ▌ Wicker (R)⎣ ▌ Hyde-Smith (R) MO: ▌ Hawley (R)⎣ ▌ Schmitt (R) MT: ▌ Tester (D)⎣ ▌ Daines (R) NE: ▌ Fischer (R)⎣ ▌ Ricketts (R) NV: ▌ Cortez Masto (D)⎣ ▌ Rosen (D) NH: ▌ Shaheen (D)⎣ ▌ Hassan (D) NJ: ▌ Booker (D)⎣ ▌ Kim (D) NM: ▌ Heinrich (D)⎣ ▌ Luján (D) NY: ▌ Schumer (D)⎣ ▌ Gillibrand (D) NC: ▌ Tillis (R)⎣ ▌ Budd (R) ND: ▌ Hoeven (R)⎣ ▌ Cramer (R) OH: ▌ Brown (D)⎣ ▌ Vance (R) OK: ▌ Lankford (R)⎣ ▌ Mullin (R) OR: ▌ Wyden (D)⎣ ▌ Merkley (D) PA: ▌ Casey (D)⎣ ▌ Fetterman (D) RI: ▌ Reed (D)⎣ ▌ Whitehouse (D) SC: ▌ Graham (R)⎣ ▌ T. Scott (R) SD: ▌ Thune (R)⎣ ▌ Rounds (R) TN: ▌ Blackburn (R)⎣ ▌ Hagerty (R) TX: ▌ Cornyn (R)⎣ ▌ Cruz (R) UT: ▌ Lee (R)⎣ ▌ Romney (R) VT: ▌ Sanders (I)⎣ ▌ Welch (D) VA: ▌ Warner (D)⎣ ▌ Kaine (D) WA: ▌ Murray (D)⎣ ▌ Cantwell (D) WV: ▌ Manchin (I)⎣ ▌ Capito (R) WI: ▌ Johnson (R)⎣ ▌ Baldwin (D) WY: ▌ Barrasso (R)⎣ ▌ Lummis (R)
▌ Republican: 49 ▌ Democratic: 47 ▌ Independent: 4

v t e United States senators from Florida
Class 1	Yulee Mallory Sr. Welch Gilbert Jones Pasco Taliaferro N. Bryan Trammell Loftin Andrews Holland Chiles Mack Nelson Scott
Class 3	Westcott Morton Yulee Osborn Conover Call Mallory Jr. W. Bryan Milton Fletcher Hill Pepper Smathers Gurney Stone Hawkins Graham Martinez LeMieux Rubio

v t e Statewide political officials of Florida
U.S. senators	Marco Rubio Rick Scott
State government	Ron DeSantis, Governor Jeanette Nuñez, Lieutenant Governor Ashley Moody, Attorney General Jimmy Patronis, Chief Financial Officer Wilton Simpson, Agriculture Commissioner Cord Byrd, Secretary of State (appointed)
Senate	Ben Albritton, President Jason Brodeur, President pro tempore Jim Boyd, Majority Leader Jason Pizzo, Minority Leader
House	Daniel Perez, Speaker Wyman Duggan, Speaker pro tempore Tyler Sirois, Majority Leader Fentrice Driskell, Minority Leader
Supreme Court (appointed)	Carlos G. Muñiz, Chief Justice Charles Canady Jorge Labarga John D. Couriel Jamie Grosshans Renatha Francis Meredith Sasso, Justices

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