06/17/2016 12:51 pm ET
Rep. David Jolly Drops Out Of Florida Senate Race
He signaled Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) could run for re-election.
By Paige Lavender
Rep. David Jolly (R-Fla.) has dropped out of Florida's Senate race, saying he will run for re-election instead.
.@USRepDavidJolly says he will not seek US Senate: I cannot reconcile campaigning 4 Senate w/doing my job in House pic.twitter.com/34l7YgraBJ
— Kellie Cowan (@KellieCowan) June 17, 2016
Jolly's move Friday comes after Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said he was considering running for re-election -- after repeatedly saying previously he would not. Florida Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, a friend of Rubio's who is running for his seat, encouraged him to run in the aftermath of the Orlando shooting, according to Politico.
Jolly, who said he would step aside if Rubio ultimately ran for re-election, told CNN Friday that Rubio had changed his mind.
"Marco is saying he's getting in," Jolly said.
A spokesman for Jolly later tried to clarify the comment, saying the congressman "has no actual knowledge of a Rubio decision," according to Reuters news agency.
Many Republican lawmakers have pressured Rubio to run again because they're nervous the GOP could lose his seat to a Democrat. Several have spoken publicly in favor of the move, including Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas).
"It's obviously a very personal decision, but I think it would be good for the party, it would be good for the Senate -- I'd like to see him do it," Cornyn told CNN in May.
Rubio must make a decision by June 24, the state's deadline for filing for office.
Marco Rubio On The Campaign Trail
Paige Lavender
Senior Editor, Breaking News, HuffPost
Elections 2016 Marco Rubio David Jolly Florida Election Marco Rubio Senate Run
Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) speaks at a rally Sunday in Franklin, Tenn. Feb. 21, 2016.
Mark Humphrey/AP Photo