Age: 44
Background: As a Miami native and son of Cuban immigrants, Rubio has served as Florida’s junior senator since January 2011. He had previously been the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives from 2006 to 2008. He has a BA in political science from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami’s School of Law.
Stance on hot topics: Rubio is intent on prioritizing the nation's military defense by increasing defense spending. He's also spoken about repealing Obama's Affordable Care Act and instead providing tax cuts for those who wish to independently purchase insurance. Though he personally opposes same-sex marriage, he says he respects the Supreme Court’s decision.
When it comes to immigration, Rubio has been vocal about reform, although he’s changed his stance on the matter various times. He coauthored the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act in 2013, which would provide undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship while also strengthening our border security. Shortly thereafter, he opposed the bill. He has now turned his attention to stopping undocumented immigrants from entering the country before addressing those that are already in the country.
Memorable quote: "I don't think you can nominate someone with a last name that ends in a vowel and expect that all of a sudden Hispanics will flock to them," he said in an interview with Parade, implying that Latino voters wouldn't just vote for him because of his background, but instead because they believe in what he stands for.
Standout moment from 2016 election — so far: In an attempt to illustrate our need for more vocational training during the GOP financial debate, Rubio said, “Welders make more money than philosophers. We need more welders and less philosophers.” Some viewers were confused by the factually incorrect comment and started LOL-worthy memes about it on Twitter.
— Reporting by Kelsey R. Garcia
