Florida Senate Race: If This Campaign Had Been a Prize Fight—They Would Have Stopped It

Abstract

Marco Rubio’s decision to run for the presidency and initially forgo reelection to the Senate led to Florida being seen as one of five states where Democrats had a solid opportunity and could ultimate regain control of the Senate. Rubio continuously expressed his resolve to leave politics at the end of his Senate term. The Republican Senate leadership, though, was keen on keeping the Florida Senate seat and believed Rubio was their strongest contender and he acquiesced. Democrats nominated a moderate congressman, Patrick Murphy, over a progressive one, Alan Grayson. Following Florida’s August primary election, political analysts handicapped this election as a genuine “toss-up.” But Rubio quickly and clearly outpaced Murphy to the point where Democrats pulled out resources prior to Rubio’s convincing reelection victory.