U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Tuesday he is urging Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to seek another term as Republicans try to maintain control of the Senate.
McConnell’s comments on the MSNBC show “Morning Joe” came after reports during the past week that Rubio is being pressured to run for re-election this fall.
“We’re doing everything we can to encourage him to run,” McConnell said.
During his unsuccessful bid for the Republican presidential nomination, Rubio said he would not run for re-election to the Senate.
That has led to five Republicans — Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, U.S. Rep. David Jolly and businessmen Carlos Beruff and Todd Wilcox — vying for the party’s Senate nomination.
Qualifying for the race, which could help determine control of the U.S. Senate, will be held June 20-24.
During a call last week with reporters, Rubio said he wasn’t planning to jump into the race and repeatedly touched on his friendship with Lopez-Cantera.
But in talking with “Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough, a former Florida congressman, McConnell made clear he would like to see Rubio enter the race.
“One of the things that we’re working on right now in your old state is trying to draft Marco into running,” McConnell told Scarborough.