Updated at 11:16 a.m. ET
Rep. David Jolly (R-FL) will announce on Friday that he will run for re-election for his House seat rather than compete in the Republican primary to replace Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Jolly’s announcement comes as speculation mounts that Rubio could launch a re-election bid at the last minute.
“David Jolly’s passion is to serve the people of Pinellas,” former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker told the Tampa Bay Times, confirming that Jolly will leave the Senate race. “He learned at the side of Congressman Bill Young and he has effectively served all parts of our county. I strongly endorse his candidacy and his reelection.”
Earlier on Friday, Jolly told CNN that he will make an announcement on noon about the future of his campaign, alluding to rumors that Rubio may run for re-election to the Senate.
“I have been running for 10 months, we’ve been polling out front. And Marco is saying he is getting in,” Jolly said on CNN when asked whether he will continue to run for Senate or instead run for re-election for his House seat.
“I would love to announce this on national news this morning. But I owe it to my community to wait until noon today. I’ll let my community know my intentions,” he added.
A spokesman for Jolly on Friday later clarified to CNN that Jolly “has no actual knowledge of a Rubio decision.”
Rubio said earlier this week that he is considering running for re-election — the deadline to file in Florida is June 24.
“Obviously, I take very seriously everything that’s going on — not just Orlando, but in our country,” Rubio told the Washington Post. “I enjoy my service here a lot. So I’ll go home later this week, and I’ll have some time with my family, and then if there’s been a change in our status I’ll be sure to let everyone know.”
Rubio told the Post on Wednesday that he’s discussed the Senate race with his friend Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, who is running against Jolly and Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) in the crowded Republican primary to fill Rubio’s Senate seat.
