Marco Rubio : Ask Biography

Personal data

Date of birth

May 28, 1971(age 45)

Place of birth

Miami, Florida

Birth name

Marco Antonio Rubio

Political party

Republican

Spouse

Jeanette Dousdebes; 4 children

Alma mater

University of Florida (B.A.)
University of Miami (J.D.)

Profession

Lawyer

Religion

Roman Catholic

Assumed office

January 3, 2011

Serving with Bill Nelson

Preceded by

George LeMieux

Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives

In office

January 2, 2007 - January 2, 2009

Succeeded by

Ray Sansom

Preceded by

Allan Bense

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 's 111th district

In office

January 25, 2000 - January 2, 2009

Succeeded by

Erik Fresen

Preceded by

Carlos Valdes

Home | Office Holder | Marco Rubio

Marco Antonio Rubio (born May 28, 1971) is the junior United States Senator from Florida (2011 � present). A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives (2007 � 2009).

Born to a family of Cuban exiles, Rubio was raised in Miami, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada. He attended Tarkio College and Santa Fe College before graduating from the University of Florida. He earned his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law in 1996 while interning for U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. In the late 1990s he served as a City Commissioner for West Miami. Rubio was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2000, representing the 111th House district. He was elected Speaker in November 2006.

Rubio announced a run for U.S. Senate in May 2009 after incumbent Republican Mel Martinez resigned. Initially trailing by double-digits against the incumbent Republican Governor Charlie Crist, Rubio eventually surpassed him in polling for the Republican nomination. Rubio won the Republican nomination after Crist opted instead for an independent run. In a three-way split against Crist and Democratic candidate Kendrick Meek, Rubio won the general election in November 2010 by a 19-point margin.

Rubio is a proponent of tea party fiscal policies and has been called the "crown prince" of the Tea Party movement.