Republican Sen. Marco Rubio Defeats Patrick Murphy, Will Serve Second-Term
By WFTV // November 8, 2016
defeated U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy
(WFTV) – Republican Sen. Marco Rubio won a second-term Tuesday in a race where he was forced to defend his support for Donald Trump and turn back suggestions he was only seeking re-election to advance his future presidential ambitions.
Rubio defeated U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, a two-term congressman with a reputation as a moderate that Democrats hoped would make him successful in a swing state like Florida.
Loud cheers and chants of “Marco! Marco! Marco!” erupted at Rubio’s election night party when the raced was called shortly after polls closed.
The presidential race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump remained tight with more than 8 million votes counted. The state’s 29 Electoral College votes are the biggest prize among swing states, and there’s little chance Trump can win the presidency without Florida.
