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Jolly Says He’ll Announce Senate Plans on Friday

Florida congressman expected to drop Senate bid as Rubio reconsiders

Florida Rep. David Jolly may decide to forgo a Senate bid and run for re-election to his House seat instead. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Florida Rep. David Jolly may decide to forgo a Senate bid and run for re-election to his House seat instead. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Florida Rep. David Jolly, running in the Republican primary for Marco Rubio’s Senate seat, said Wednesday he is about to make an announcement about his “future intentions in Congress,” which is sure to stoke speculation that the GOP is clearing the way for Rubio to enter the race.  

Jolly has said repeatedly that he would drop his bid if Rubio changed his mind about retiring. He confirmed that was his intention during a brief exchange at the end of a morning interview on “Fox & Friends” on Fox News.  

“I will support Marco if he gets in the race,” he said.

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Rubio has resisted mounting appeals from Senate GOP leaders worried that the party would lose the seat without him, but he hinted Monday that he was reconsidering , saying that the massacre of 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando on Sunday had “given me pause” and that he and his family were praying about the next step in his career.  

Jolly predicted weeks ago that Rubio would ultimately change his mind, prompting speculation among Florida political insiders that Jolly would drop his Senate bid to throw his resources into retaining his House seat.  

Jolly had decided not to pursue re-election after recent redistricting increased the number of Democratic voters in his 13th District, but polling sponsored by his supporters has since indicated that he could still win.  

The deadline for candidates to qualify for both House and Senate elections in Florida is June 24.

Contact Akin at 


stephanieakin@rollcall.com


 and follow her on Twitter at 


@stephanieakin

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