History of Marco Rubio in Timeline
Marco Rubio is an American politician, diplomat, and attorney. He has served as the 72nd United States secretary of state and acting administrator of USAID since 2025. Previously, he was a United States senator from Florida from 2011 to 2025. He is a member of the Republican Party and was a candidate for president of the United States in the 2016 Republican primaries.
1956: Grandfather Immigrated to the U.S.
In 1956, Marco Rubio's maternal grandfather, Pedro Victor Garcia, legally immigrated to the U.S.
1956: Rubio's Parents Left Cuba
Marco Rubio's parents left Cuba in 1956, during the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista.
1959: Grandfather Returned to Cuba for Work
In 1959, Marco Rubio's maternal grandfather returned to Cuba to find work.
1959: Controversy over Family History
In October 2011, it was reported that Marco Rubio's previous statements that his parents were forced to leave Cuba in 1959 (after Fidel Castro came to power) were falsehoods.
1961: Mother's Return Trips to Cuba
In 1961, Marco Rubio's mother made a month-long trip back to Cuba after Castro's takeover.
1961: Mother Took Siblings to Cuba
In 1961, Marco Rubio's mother took his two elder siblings back to Cuba with the intention of living there permanently.
1962: Grandfather Detained as Undocumented Immigrant
In 1962, Marco Rubio's grandfather fled communist Cuba and returned to the U.S. without a visa, leading to his detention as an undocumented immigrant; however, he was later given legal status.
1966: Grandfather's Residency Approved
In 1966, Marco Rubio's grandfather re-applied for permanent resident status following passage of the Cuban Adjustment Act, at which point his residency was approved.
1975: Parents Naturalized as U.S. Citizens
In 1975, Marco Rubio's parents were naturalized as U.S. citizens.
1984: First Communion
In 1984, Marco Rubio received his first communion as a Catholic before moving back to Miami a year later.
1989: High School Graduation
In 1989, Marco Rubio graduated from South Miami Senior High School.
1993: Graduated from University of Florida
In 1993, Marco Rubio earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Florida.
1996: Graduated from Law School
In 1996, Marco Rubio earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law.
1996: Worked on Dole's Presidential Campaign
In 1996, Marco Rubio worked on Republican senator Bob Dole's presidential campaign.
April 1998: Elected City Commissioner
In April 1998, Marco Rubio was elected as city commissioner for West Miami.
December 14, 1999: Second in Republican Primary
On December 14, 1999, Marco Rubio placed second in the Republican primary but won the runoff election for the Republican nomination.
January 2000: Took Seat in Florida Legislature
In January 2000, Marco Rubio took his seat in the Florida House of Representatives in Tallahassee.
January 25, 2000: Won Special Election
On January 25, 2000, Marco Rubio defeated Democrat Anastasia Garcia with 72% of the vote in a special election.
November 2000: Reelected Unopposed
In November 2000, Marco Rubio was reelected unopposed to the Florida House of Representatives.
2000: Elected to Florida House of Representatives
In 2000, Marco Rubio was elected to represent the 111th district in the Florida House of Representatives.
2000: Became Member of Florida House
In early 2000, Marco Rubio became a member of the Florida House of Representatives.
2000: Promoted to Majority Whip
Later in 2000, Marco Rubio was promoted to be one of two majority whips in the Florida House of Representatives.
September 2001: Fasano Resigned as Majority Leader
In September 2001, Mike Fasano resigned as majority leader of the Florida House, and Rubio volunteered to work on redistricting.
2001: Legislative Earmarks Requested
In 2001, as a state representative, Marco Rubio requested legislative earmarks totaling about $145 million.
2001: Plan to Reduce State Property Taxes to 2001 Levels
Rubio introduced a plan to reduce state property taxes to 2001 levels and potentially eliminate them altogether, while increasing sales taxes by 1% to 2.5% to fund schools.
December 2002: Appointed House Majority Leader
In December 2002, Marco Rubio was appointed House majority leader by Speaker Johnnie Byrd.
2002: Reelected Unopposed
In 2002, Marco Rubio was reelected unopposed to a second term in the Florida House of Representatives.
2002: Legislative Earmarks Requested
In 2002, as a state representative, Marco Rubio requested legislative earmarks totaling about $145 million.
2004: Reelected to Third Term
In 2004, Marco Rubio was reelected to a third term in the Florida House of Representatives with 66% of the vote.
January 2005: Personal Charges on Party Credit Card
Beginning in January 2005, Rubio made some personal charges on his Republican Party of Florida American Express card.
September 13, 2005: Became Speaker-Designate
On September 13, 2005, Marco Rubio became speaker-designate of the Florida House of Representatives.
2005: Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. City of New London
In 2005, the Supreme Court made the decision on Kelo v. City of New London which took a broad view of governmental power to take private property under eminent domain.
2005: Speech to the Florida House
In 2005, when he was chosen as future speaker, Marco Rubio delivered a speech to the Florida House and presented a blank book titled "100 Innovative Ideas For Florida's Future".
October 2006: Personal Charges on Party Credit Card
In October 2006, Rubio made some personal charges on his Republican Party of Florida American Express card, prior to releasing his statements years later.
November 2006: Elected Speaker of the Florida House
In November 2006, Marco Rubio was elected speaker of the Florida House, serving for two years.
November 2006: Sworn in as Speaker
In November 2006, Marco Rubio was sworn in as speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
2006: Florida Enacts Law on Private Property Authority
In 2006, Florida enacted into law limitations upon the authority of the state government to take private property, this legislation was proposed by a special committee chaired by Rubio prior to his speakership.
2006: Reelected to Fourth Term
In 2006, Marco Rubio was reelected to a fourth term in the Florida House of Representatives unopposed.
2006: Published "100 Innovative Ideas"
In 2006, after traveling around the state and compiling ideas, Marco Rubio published the book "100 Innovative Ideas For Florida's Future".
January 2007: Crist Takes Office and Clashes with Rubio
In January 2007, Charlie Crist took office as governor and frequently clashed with Rubio, particularly over Crist's initiative to expand casino gambling in Florida. Rubio sued Crist for bypassing the Florida Legislature in order to make a deal with the Seminole Tribe.
January 2007: Bush Left Office
In January 2007, Jeb Bush completed his term as governor of Florida.
2007: Comparison of Senate Attendance
In 2007, John McCain missed a higher percentage of votes than Rubio did in 2015, when Rubio was running for president.
2007: Discussion of Apology for Slavery
In 2007, after a request from Florida state senator Tony Hill (D-Jacksonville) that the legislature apologize for slavery, Rubio said the idea merited discussion.
November 2008: End of Speakership
In November 2008, Marco Rubio's term as speaker of the Florida House of Representatives ended.
2008: Jonathan D. Farrar Chief of Mission of the United States Interests Section in Havana
From 2008 to 2011, Jonathan D. Farrar was the Chief of Mission of the United States Interests Section in Havana.
2008: Left Florida Legislature
In 2008, Marco Rubio left the Florida legislature due to term limits and began teaching at Florida International University.
2008: Rubio Supports Apologies for Slavery
In 2008, Rubio voiced his support for apologies for slavery, emphasizing the importance of symbolic gestures and addressing the belief among young African-American males that the American dream is not accessible to them.
2008: Rubio Begins Teaching at FIU
In 2008, after leaving the Florida Legislature, Rubio began teaching as an adjunct professor at Florida International University (FIU).
2008: George Seay's Previous Campaigns
In January 2015, it was reported that George Seay, previously worked on such campaigns as Mitt Romney's in 2008.
May 5, 2009: Rubio Announces Senate Run
On May 5, 2009, Rubio announced his intent to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martínez.
April 28, 2010: Crist Leaves Republican Party
On April 28, 2010, Charlie Crist announced he would run for Senate without a party affiliation, effectively ceding the Republican nomination to Rubio.
November 2, 2010: Rubio Wins Senate Election
On November 2, 2010, Rubio won the general election for U.S. Senate, becoming one of only two Hispanic Americans in the Senate at the time.
2010: Elected to U.S. Senate
In 2010, Marco Rubio was elected to the U.S. Senate in a three-way race.
2010: Report on Spending Requests
In 2010, a report said some of Marco Rubio's spending requests dovetailed with his personal interests.
2010: Senate Campaign Credit Card Issues
In 2010, during Rubio's Senate campaign, issues were raised by the media and his political opponents about some items charged by Rubio to his Republican Party of Florida American Express card during his time as House speaker.
2010: House Foreclosure
In 2010, the house Rubio co-owned with David Rivera went into foreclosure after missed mortgage payments, and Rubio assumed responsibility for the payments.
January 2011: Rubio Misses Votes in Senate
From January 2011 to February 2015, Marco Rubio missed 8.3% of total votes, according to analysis by Vocativ as reported by Fox News.
March 2011: Rubio Supports Military Campaign in Libya
In March 2011, Rubio supported U.S. participation in the military campaign in Libya to oust Muammar Gaddafi.
June 2011: Rubio Urges Congressional Authorization for Libya Action
In June 2011, Rubio joined Senator Joe Lieberman in urging passage of congressional authorization for military action in Libya.
October 2011: Push for Continued Engagement in Libya
In October 2011, Rubio joined other senators in pushing for continued engagement in Libya to help lay the foundation for sustainable security.
October 2011: Washington Post Report on Rubio's Family History
In October 2011, The Washington Post reported that Rubio's previous statements about his parents leaving Cuba in 1959 were false, causing a controversy.
2011: Became a U.S. Senator
In 2011, Marco Rubio became a United States senator from Florida.
2011: Rubio Influences Ambassadorial Nomination
In 2011, Rubio became an influential defender of the United States embargo against Cuba and induced the State Department to withdraw an ambassadorial nomination of Jonathan D. Farrar. Rubio also visited the Reagan Library and rescued Nancy Reagan from falling.
2011: No Interest in Running for President
In 2011, Rubio stated he had no interest in running for president or vice president in the 2012 election.
2011: Rubio Voted Against the Budget Control Act of 2011
In 2011, Rubio voted against the Budget Control Act of 2011, which included mandatory automatic budget cuts from sequestration.
2011: Rubio Rejoined FIU Faculty
In 2011, after entering the U.S. Senate, Rubio rejoined the FIU faculty, teaching undergraduate courses on Florida politics, political parties, and legislative politics.
2011: Cesar Conda as Chief of Staff
Since 2011, Cesar Conda served as Rubio's chief of staff. Conda later departed in April 2014 to lead Rubio's Reclaim America PAC as a senior advisor.
March 2012: Rubio Endorses Romney
In March 2012, Rubio endorsed Mitt Romney for president and stated he did not expect to be or want to be selected as a vice presidential running mate, though he was vetted.
2012: Paid off Student Loans
In 2012, Marco Rubio paid off $100,000 in student loans.
2012: Rubio Voted Against 2012 Fiscal Cliff Resolutions
In 2012, Rubio voted against the 2012 "fiscal cliff" resolutions, expressing concerns about the impact on small businesses and the lack of debt control.
2012: Ethics Commission Clears Rubio
In 2012, The Florida Commission on Ethics cleared Rubio of wrongdoing in his use of the party-issued credit card.
2012: George Seay's Previous Campaigns
In January 2015, it was reported that George Seay, previously worked on such campaigns as Rick Perry's in 2012.
April 2013: Rubio Voted Against Expansion of Background Checks
In April 2013, Rubio voted against an expansion of background checks for gun purchases.
2013: Rubio Delivers Republican Response
In 2013, Rubio was chosen to deliver the Republican response to President Obama's State of the Union Address, marking the first time the response was delivered in both English and Spanish.
2013: Rubio Part of Gang of Eight
In 2013, Rubio was part of the bipartisan "Gang of Eight" senators that crafted comprehensive immigration reform legislation.
April 2014: Rubio's Senate and Presidential Plans
In April 2014, Marco Rubio stated that he would not run for reelection to the Senate if he ran for president in 2016, due to Florida law.
April 18, 2014: Rubio's New Hampshire Polling Position Drops
On April 18, 2014, a poll tracking New Hampshire's Republican primary voters showed Marco Rubio had dropped to 10th place among Republican contenders.
October 27, 2014: Rubio's Senate Voting Attendance
From October 27, 2014, to October 26, 2015, Marco Rubio voted in 74% of Senate votes, according to an analysis by GovTrack.us, which tracks congressional voting records.
November 2014: Rubio Pushes for Elimination of PPACA Risk Corridors
In November 2014, as Republicans gained control of the U.S. Senate, Marco Rubio advocated for eliminating the "risk corridors" within the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). His efforts led to a provision in the 2014 federal budget that restricted funding sources to replenish these depleted risk corridors.
2014: Republicans Obtain Senate Majority
After the 2014 midterm elections, the Republicans obtained majority control of the Senate.
2014: Alberto Martinez Becomes Chief of Staff
In 2014, Alberto Martinez succeeded Cesar Conda as Rubio's chief of staff, with Conda remaining as a part-time advisor.
2014: Joined Broad and Cassel
Until 2014, Marco Rubio practiced law at a firm specializing in land use and zoning, before taking a position with Broad and Cassel, a Miami law and lobbying firm.
January 2015: Rubio Prepares for Potential 2016 Run
In January 2015, Marco Rubio began contacting top donors and appointing advisors, including George Seay and Jim Rubright, for a potential 2016 presidential run.
January 2015: Rubio Places Second in Online Poll
In January 2015, Marco Rubio placed second among potential 2016 Republican presidential candidates in an online poll of likely voters conducted by Zogby Analytics.
February 2015: Rubio Misses Votes in Senate
From January 2011 to February 2015, Marco Rubio missed 8.3% of total votes, according to analysis by Vocativ as reported by Fox News.
March 2015: Rubio and Lee Propose Tax Plan
In March 2015, Marco Rubio and Senator Mike Lee proposed a tax plan. The plan aimed to lower the corporate income tax rate, eliminate taxes on capital gains, dividends, and inherited estates, and create a new child tax credit. It also proposed a new "consolidated system of benefits" to replace the means-tested welfare system.
April 13, 2015: Rubio Launches 2016 Presidential Campaign
On April 13, 2015, Marco Rubio officially launched his campaign for president in 2016, pitching his candidacy as an effort to restore the American Dream.
April 2015: Launched Presidential Bid
In April 2015, Marco Rubio launched a presidential bid instead of seeking reelection to the Senate.
April 2015: Rubio Decides to Run for President
In April 2015, Rubio decided to run for president instead of seeking reelection to the Senate.
October 26, 2015: Rubio's Senate Voting Attendance
From October 27, 2014, to October 26, 2015, Marco Rubio voted in 74% of Senate votes, according to an analysis by GovTrack.us, which tracks congressional voting records.
November 2015: Release of Credit Card Statements
In November 2015, Rubio released his party credit card statements for January 2005 through October 2006, showing personal charges he had reimbursed.
February 6, 2016: Rubio Criticized for Being Scripted
During a nationally televised debate among Republican candidates in New Hampshire on February 6, 2016, Marco Rubio was criticized by Chris Christie for speaking repetitively and sounding "scripted".
February 2016: Rubio Calls Trump a "Con Artist"
During the Republican primary campaign in February 2016, Marco Rubio criticized Donald Trump, calling him a "con artist" and saying that Trump is "wholly unprepared to be president of the United States".
March 15, 2016: Suspended Presidential Campaign
On March 15, 2016, Marco Rubio suspended his campaign for the presidency after losing to Donald Trump in the Florida Republican primary.
May 17, 2016: Rubio Supports Obama's Zika Funding Request
On May 17, 2016, Marco Rubio supported President Obama's request for $2 billion in emergency spending on the Zika virus, despite being in the Republican majority. He cited the need to address the issue, especially given that Florida accounted for about 20% of U.S. Zika cases at the time.
June 13, 2016: Rubio hints at running for reelection
On June 13, 2016, Rubio "seemed to open the door to running for reelection", citing the previous day's Orlando nightclub shooting
June 2016: Rubio Reaffirms Concerns About Trump
In June 2016, after Trump became the presumptive GOP nominee, Marco Rubio reaffirmed his February 2016 comments that we must not hand "the nuclear codes of the United States to an erratic individual".
July 20, 2016: Rubio Endorses Trump
On July 20, 2016, after Trump won the Republican Party's nomination, Marco Rubio endorsed him.
August 30, 2016: Rubio Wins Republican Primary
On August 30, 2016, Rubio won the Republican primary, defeating Carlos Beruff.
October 7, 2016: Rubio Responds to Access Hollywood Controversy
Following the October 7, 2016, Donald Trump Access Hollywood controversy, Marco Rubio called Trump's comments "vulgar, egregious & impossible to justify."
2016: Presidential Candidate
In 2016, Marco Rubio was a candidate for president of the United States in the Republican primaries.
2016: On Interrogation Techniques
In 2016, Rubio said the U.S. should "find out everything they know" from captured terrorists and should not telegraph "the enemy what interrogation techniques we will or won't use."
2016: Rubio's Senate and Presidential Plans
In April 2014, Marco Rubio stated that he would not run for reelection to the Senate if he ran for president in 2016, due to Florida law.
2016: Rubio Prepares for Potential 2016 Run
In January 2015, Marco Rubio began contacting top donors and appointing advisors, including George Seay and Jim Rubright, for a potential 2016 presidential run.
2016: Rubio Places Second in Online Poll
In January 2015, Marco Rubio placed second among potential 2016 Republican presidential candidates in an online poll of likely voters conducted by Zogby Analytics.
2016: Rubio Launches 2016 Presidential Campaign
On April 13, 2015, Marco Rubio officially launched his campaign for president in 2016, pitching his candidacy as an effort to restore the American Dream.
2016: Rubio Backs Trump, Attends Convention
Throughout 2016, Marco Rubio expressed support for Donald Trump, confirmed his attendance at the Republican National Convention, and rebuked some of Trump's controversial comments.
January 2017: Rubio Anticipates Private Citizen Status
On March 17, 2016, Marco Rubio stated that he would be a "private citizen" by January 2017, leading to speculation about the termination of his political career, though he later reversed this decision.
April 5, 2017: Rubio Criticizes Assad's Actions
On April 5, 2017, Marco Rubio stated that Bashar al-Assad felt he could act with "impunity" because the United States was not prioritizing his removal from office.
September 2017: Rubio Defends Rescinding DACA
In September 2017, Marco Rubio defended President Trump's decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, deeming the program "unconstitutional".
August 28, 2018: Urged Sanctions Against Chinese Officials
On August 28, 2018, Marco Rubio and 16 other members of Congress urged the U.S. to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act against Chinese officials responsible for human rights abuses against the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang.
2019: Rubio Defends Trump's G7 Summit Location Choice
In 2019, Marco Rubio defended President Trump's decision to host the 46th G7 summit at Trump National Doral Miami, a resort owned by Trump. Rubio stated that the decision was "great" and would benefit local businesses.
2019: Became Florida's Senior Senator
In January 2019, Marco Rubio became Florida's senior senator following the defeat of former Senator Bill Nelson.
July 13, 2020: China Sanctions Rubio
On July 13, 2020, the Chinese government sanctioned Marco Rubio and three other U.S. politicians for "interfering in China's internal affairs" by condemning human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
August 10, 2020: China Sanctions Rubio Again
On August 10, 2020, the Chinese government sanctioned Marco Rubio and 10 other Americans for "behaving badly on Hong Kong-related issues".
November 2020: Rubio Announces Senate Run
In November 2020, Rubio announced he would run for a third Senate term in the 2022 election.
November 23, 2020: Rubio Refers to Biden as President-Elect
By November 23, 2020, after initially defending Trump's right to challenge the election results, Marco Rubio referred to Joe Biden as president-elect.
2020: Democrats Regain Senate Majority
After the 2020 elections, the Democrats regained majority control of the Senate, and Rubio has reassumed minority status within the Senate.
2020: Rubio Supports Judy Shelton's Nomination
In 2020, Marco Rubio supported the nomination of Judy Shelton to the Federal Reserve board of governors, despite her receiving bipartisan criticism.
January 2021: Rubio Sponsors Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act
In January 2021, Marco Rubio sponsored the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.
February 2021: Rubio Votes to Acquit Trump
In February 2021, Marco Rubio voted to acquit Donald Trump for his role in inciting the mob to storm the Capitol.
May 2021: Rubio Argues Wall Street Must Stop Enabling Communist China
In May 2021, Marco Rubio argued that "Wall Street must stop enabling Communist China" in The American Prospect and on his website.
May 28, 2021: Rubio Votes Against January 6 Commission
On May 28, 2021, Marco Rubio voted against creating the January 6 commission.
2022: Condemnation of Winter Olympics in China
In 2022, Marco Rubio condemned holding the Winter Olympics in China due to its "evil, genocidal regime", and stated he would work to ensure the Olympics are never hosted there again. He also introduced the Chinese Communist Party Visa Ban Act.
2022: Rubio Denounces Russian Invasion of Ukraine
In 2022, Marco Rubio denounced the Russian invasion of Ukraine and co-sponsored a bill targeting pro-Russian separatist groups.
2022: Reelected to Senate
In 2022, Marco Rubio was reelected to a third term in the Senate, defeating Democratic nominee Val Demings.
2022: Rubio wins the General Election
In 2022, Rubio won the November 8 general election with 57% of the vote to Demings's 41%.
March 2023: Support for Revoking China Trade Relations
In March 2023, Marco Rubio voiced support for revoking China's permanent normal trade relations status.
November 2024: Chosen as Secretary of State
In November 2024, Donald Trump reportedly chose Marco Rubio as United States Secretary of State in his second administration.
November 2024: Comments on the War in Ukraine
In November 2024, Marco Rubio called Ukrainians "incredibly brave and strong", but said the war in Ukraine had reached a "stalemate" and "needs to be brought to a conclusion" to avoid further casualties.
2024: Endorsed Trump for President
In 2024, Marco Rubio endorsed Trump for president days before the Iowa caucuses.
January 20, 2025: Nominated and Confirmed as Secretary of State
On January 20, 2025, Marco Rubio was formally nominated by President Trump as Secretary of State. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations unanimously approved his nomination, and the Senate confirmed him later that day by a vote of 99 to 0.
January 21, 2025: Took Office as Secretary of State
On January 21, 2025, Marco Rubio was confirmed and took office as United States Secretary of State.
January 22, 2025: Passport Application Freeze
On January 22, 2025, Marco Rubio instructed State Department staff to freeze passport applications requesting "X" sex markers, in compliance with Executive Order 14168.
January 24, 2025: Foreign Aid Freeze
On January 24, 2025, Marco Rubio enacted a 90-day freeze on all U.S. foreign aid, with some exceptions, following President Trump's executive order. The freeze went into effect January 28.
February 16, 2025: Ukraine Peace Negotiations
On February 16, 2025, Marco Rubio rejected concerns that Ukraine and Europe would be excluded from future peace negotiations regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He stated that Donald Trump was the only leader capable of starting that process.
February 18, 2025: Meeting with Lavrov in Riyadh
On February 18, 2025, Marco Rubio, along with other American delegates, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. They discussed a framework for future peace negotiations regarding the war in Ukraine.
2025: Secretary of State and USAID Administrator
In 2025, Marco Rubio started serving as the 72nd United States secretary of state and acting administrator of USAID.
