Lois Frankel Backs Patrick Murphy for Senate

U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., announced on Monday she was backing U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., in the 2016 U.S. Senate race. U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., has left the door open to running for the seat which is currently held by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. Expected to launch a presidential campaign in the weeks to come, Rubio has said he wont run for a second term in the Senate if he runs for president.

"It has been an honor to serve in Congress with Patrick Murphy, who shares my commitment to improving Florida by protecting hard-working American families, preserving Social Security and Medicare, and fighting for equality and women's rights, Frankel said on Monday. I am proud to support his campaign for U.S. Senate, where I know he will continue to be a strong Democratic leader and advocate for our community."

In his first week as a Senate candidate, Murphy is starting to pull in some major endorsements, including those of fellow Florida Democrats former Gov. Charlie Crist, U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch and U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings.