VOTERS SEND RUBIO, MURPHY INTO BATTLE
Contest to help decide Senate control
The presidential race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton figures to cast a large shadow.
Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Patrick Murphy will face each other in Florida’s general election Senate race, voters decided Tuesday.
Rubio cruised to victory with nearly 72% of the vote in his bid for the Republican nomination to seek a second term, and Murphy won nearly 60% in the Democratic nomination race to face Rubio on Nov. 8.
The Rubio-Murphy matchup will help decide which party controls the Senate next year.
Even before polls opened Tuesday morning, more than 1.7 million Floridians had filled out a ballot either by mail or at an early voting site.
Rubio, who broke a pledge not to run for re-election after losing his presidential bid, won against real estate developer Carlos Be- ruff in the GOP primary. Murphy, one of the most moderate Democrats in the House, defeated Rep. Alan Grayson, a liberal firebrand, in the Democratic contest.
The resounding victory was a redemption of sorts for Rubio, who was trounced by Trump in Florida’s GOP presidential primary in March. Rubio called Trump a “con man” who couldn’t be trusted. Trump disparaged his rival as “little Marco” and a “dishonest lightweight.”
Rubio has since decided to back Trump while emphasizing the many policy differences they have. Trump has gotten behind Rubio’s decision to run for re-election.
Murphy’s meteoric rise through Florida’s Democratic ranks was slowed recently over allegations that he exaggerated his résumé. Rubio’s allies worked to tie Murphy to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, who has low favorability ratings among voters in Florida and elsewhere.
Polls show Rubio with an early but narrow advantage over Mur- phy. The presidential race between Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton figures to cast a large shadow on the Senate race.
Tuesday also was primary day for candidates in Florida’s 27 House districts. Democrats facing primary challengers included Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. The six-term congresswoman won 58%-42% against law professor Tim Canova.