“I have no interest in running against Marco Rubio for the US Senate,” tweeted Rep. Matt Gaetz in response to a story about him possibly running against the senior senator from Florida.
Die-hard Trump Republicans still haven’t gotten over the brutal 2016 presidential primary election between the two men, and even though President Trump and Sen. Rubio worked very close together to promote the America First agenda during Trump's presidency, it’s still not enough for the Trump faithful to forgive and forget.
“In 2022 the only statewide position I would consider running for in the current political climate is Commissioner of Agriculture. But things can change! (Not the Senate thing though)”- Rep Matt Gaetz
While Gaetz won’t run against Rubio next year, it doesn’t mean that he wouldn't want to be a sitting U.S. Senator.
Gaetz was mulling over a run for Rubio’s seat when he and most of us believed that Rubio would not seek a third term in office, and is rumored to have floated the story that Rubio was inline to be Secretary of State under President Trump.
Rubio debunked that rumor, telling The Floridian at the time that accepting the job a Secretary of State was not an option for him
This is also the case for Rep. Ted Deutch (D), who would have run for Rubio’s seat if Rubio were to have stepped down or decide not to seek another term.
If Rubio would have decided not to run for re-election, Gaetz would jump in and all-but clear the field of potential Republican senatorial candidates.
Challenging Rubio doesn’t make any sense for Gaetz. The popular Fox News fixture holds a very strong position in the House Republican Caucus and putting his political career on the line just does not make any sense whatsoever.
Running for Agriculture Commissioner also doesn’t add up.
Why would Gaetz want to hold a state-level office that doesn’t get much press or fanfare?
His days on Fox News would be over, were he to run for AG commissioner.
But what if he ran for president in 2024? According to a close friend and confidant of Gaetz, running for president is on the table.
