Odds of Rubio Running for Re-Election Just Got a Lot Bigger

The main obstacle keeping Marco Rubio from seeking re-election to his Senate seat just disappeared. The prospect of Rubio doing so gained traction in the wake of the Orlando shooting, but he continued to insist that he wouldn't run against his friend already in the race, Carlos Lopez-Cantera. Now, however, Lopez-Cantera himself is publicly giving Rubio the all-clear, reports Politico. He says he and Rubio discussed it in recent days, with Lopez-Cantera encouraging him to consider changing his mind. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to say that because of outside pressure,” he quotes Rubio as responding. The incumbent told reporters on Wednesday that he'd go home this week to spend time with his family and consider his next steps.

Rumors are swirling that the pair have some sort of plan—perhaps for Rubio to win the seat over a Democrat (Republicans believe he has the best shot), then resign and allow Lopez-Cantera to run before the 2020 presidential campaign. But Lopez-Cantera says that's not the case. "Until I mentioned this, he was really committed to spending time with his kids, being able to be home for more than 10 days without having to go somewhere," he says. As of now, "nothing has changed,” he adds. "I'm still running. Marco isn't." Rubio's decision isn’t expected until the weekend at the earliest, per the Wall Street Journal; he has until June 24 to file for re-election. If he does so, Lopez-Cantera won't run, says Politico. (More Marco Rubio stories.)