U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., announced on Monday that he will not run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., in 2016. Rubio is running for the Republican presidential nomination and is not expected to run for a second term in the Senate.
Rooney had opened the door to running for the Senate, telling Sunshine State News early last week that he was mulling over launching a campaign.
But Rooney was singing a different tune on Monday, saying he did not want to put his family through the ordeal of a Senate campaign despite insisting he could win the race.
For the last several days I considered running for the U.S. Senate representing the great state of Florida," Rooney said on Monday. While I feel like I could mount a successful statewide campaign, the toll I believe the process would take on my family is something I cannot put them through.
There is no greater responsibility I have than the upbringing of my three young sons, Rooney added. Therefore, I will not seek the Republican nomination for Senate in 2016. I want to thank all those who believed I would make a good senator, especially my wife Tara.
While Rooney will not be running for the Senate, he is showing no signs of heading to the sidelines and signaled that he will look to remain in the House.
I look forward to continuing to serve the people of the 17th District of Florida in the House, Rooney said on Monday. It has been and will continue to be a great honor that I take with immeasurable pride.
Despite Rooney staying out of the race, there are other Republicans looking at entering the contest. U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., former Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and former Florida Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, are all looking at running for the Republican nomination for the open Senate seat. U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., U.S. Rep. Curt Clawson, R-Fla., U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, R-Fla. and Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera are also possible Senate candidates for the Republicans. U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., entered the Senate race last month and U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., is considering running against him in the Democratic primary.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
