Marco Rubio to Seek Senate Reelection

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ABC News(WASHINGTON) — After months of ruling out a reelection bid for his U.S. Senate seat during his unsuccessful presidential run, Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio says he will seek reelection this November.

“In politics, admitting you’ve changed your mind is not something most people like to do. But here it goes. I have decided to seek reelection to the United States Senate,” Rubio said in a statement Wednesday morning.

“I have often said that the U.S. Senate can be a frustrating place. And it’s true. After witnessing the gridlock that grips Washington, I think just about every American – Democrat or Republican – would agree. But the Senate is also a place from which you can perform great services for the people you have the honor of representing,” he said.

Rubio tweeted that he made up his mind over Father’s Day weekend. Still, just a month ago, he insisted that he would not be running for reelection.

“In November 2016, I will either once again be a private citizen, or I will be the next president of the United States,” Rubio said last October during his presidential bid.

The move marks the end of a long stretch of pressure from fellow Republicans to consider running for the slot. The Republicans are trying to protect a slim majority in the U.S. Senate in the 2016 elections, despite having several at-risk seats in key swing states like Pennsylvania, Florida and Ohio.

A new Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday morning showed Rubio leading both of his main Democratic opponents in a November matchup. Candidates who were running to replace Rubio trailed their likely Democratic rivals.

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