U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney
U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney announced that he’s not going to seek the seat after spending the last week entertaining the idea.
“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,” Rooney said. “There is no greater responsibility I have than the upbringing of my three young sons. Therefore, I will not seek the Republican nomination for Senate in 2016.”
Rooney, a Congressman since 2008, represents all of Charlotte County and part of Manatee County in his 10-county congressional district.
Rooney follows Florida’s elected Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and former House Speaker Will Weatherford as other big names that have officially pulled their names out of the race to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who announced last week he is running for president instead of seeking re-election.
Other Republicans who are considering running still include U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, and Florida Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera.
On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy is already in the race, while Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Orlando, has said he is considering jumping into the contest.
Though Republicans dominate most statewide office in Florida, the 2016 Senate race is presenting a problem for the GOP because it is during a presidential election cycle. In the last three U.S. Senate races that fell during a presidential election, Republican candidates have averaged just over 46 percent of the vote, compared to 51 percent for the Democrat.
