After endorsing them last month, one of the most prominent Republicans on foreign policy doubled down on his support of Florida Republicans Marco Rubio and Ron DeSantis on Wednesday.
Former UN Amb. John Bolton endorsed Rubio and DeSantis in June, praising their records and supporting them through his namesake PAC. On Wednesday, Bolton’s PAC sent $10,000 to Rubio’s bid for a second term in the Senate and $5,000 to DeSantis. When he was running for the Senate, DeSantis received $10,000 from Bolton’s PAC. At the end of last month, when Rubio announced he would run for a second Senate term, DeSantis bowed out and decided to run for a third term in the House.
Bolton praised both Florida Republicans on Wednesday.
"Marco Rubio understands foreign policy and he is a critical voice to have in the U.S. Senate during these precarious times at home and abroad,” said Bolton. “Marco is a champion for strengthening our military and advancing our international interests, which is why I endorse him and the John Bolton PAC has donated the maximum amount of $10,000 to his campaign for the U.S. Senate.
"As a former officer in the Navy who has been deployed overseas, Ron knows first hand the dangers we face abroad,” Bolton added. “Since joining the House of Representatives, Ron has been a leader in the fight against terrorism and as chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, he has worked diligently to defend our homeland; just a few of many reasons why I strongly endorse his re-election to Congress.”
Bolton’s PAC has backed candidates in all 50 states, sending more than $375,000 to candidates across the country.
The subject of presidential buzz back in 2012 and this election cycle before deciding not to run both times, Bolton has active backing other Republicans in the Sunshine State. Calling U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the former chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and now in charge of the House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, a leader on foreign policy, Bolton is backing her efforts to win another term. He also is behind Mario Diaz-Balart for another term, insisting the South Florida Republican understands the need for strong national security policy. Bolton is also backing Carlos Curbelo, the South Florida Republican who is expected to face a major challenge from the Democrats in November.
In 2014, Bolton supported Curbelo, DeSantis, Diaz-Balart and Ros-Lehtinen for reelection but he also backed Congressman Steve Southerland’s unsuccessful effort to hold off Democratic challenger Gwen Graham and former state Rep. Carl Domino’s failed bid to defeat Democratic Congressman Patrick Murphy.
Bolton, whom former President George W. Bush appointed as ambassador to the United Nations for 16 months -- despite never winning confirmation in the U.S. Senate -- had raised the possibility that he would be open to a presidential campaign to highlight foreign-policy issues in 2012 and 2016 but he stayed out both time. On most issues, Bolton, who identifies himself as influenced by the likes of former President Ronald Reagan and former GOP presidential candidate Barry Goldwater is a reliable conservative but he does break left on some issues, including backing same-sex marriage.
While well-respected by Beltway Republicans, Bolton has never held elective office, though he did serve in the Justice and State departments under Reagan and George H.W. Bush, eventually rising to serve as assistant secretary of state for International Organization Affairs. He served as under-secretary for Arms Control and International Security in George W. Bush’s first term, before being named to the U.N. post.
