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Florida Sen. Marco Rubio endorses Trump in Republican primary

Both of Florida’s senators have now backed the former president over Gov. Ron DeSantis, their home-state governor.
 
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., announced his Republican primary endorsement of former President Donald Trump on the day before the Iowa caucuses.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., announced his Republican primary endorsement of former President Donald Trump on the day before the Iowa caucuses. [ MATIAS J. OCNER | mocner@miamiherald.com ]
Published Jan. 14|Updated Jan. 14

WASHINGTON — Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida has become the 24th Republican senator to endorse former President Donald Trump in the GOP’s 2024 presidential primary.

Rubio’s endorsement on Sunday means the two U.S. senators from Florida are now firmly behind Trump instead of Gov. Ron DeSantis, leader of their home state. Trump is now one Republican senator short of securing the majority support of GOP senators.

“I support Trump because that kind of leadership is the ONLY way we will get the extraordinary actions needed to fix the disaster Biden has created,” Rubio said on X, formerly known as Twitter. “It’s time to get on with the work of beating Biden & saving America!”

The endorsement of Trump is a bit of a surprise, given that one contender, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, endorsed Rubio when he was running in the 2016 Republican presidential campaign. Rubio dropped out of that race after losing Florida.