Who is Marco Rubio? Biography, Age & Wikipedia

Marco Rubio, born on May 28, 1971, in Miami, Florida, has been appointed as the 72nd Secretary of State of the United States, a position he has held since January 20, 2025.

Prior to this appointment, Rubio represented Florida in the U.S. Senate from 2011 to 2025. After a failed presidential bid in 2016, he shifted his political stance, becoming a strong advocate for conservative populism, and eventually aligning with President Donald Trump.

Trump chose Rubio for the role of Secretary of State in 2024, and the Senate confirmed his nomination unanimously.

Early Life and Political Beginnings

Marco Rubio’s parents emigrated from Cuba in 1956 during the Batista dictatorship, eventually settling in Las Vegas before returning to Florida in 1985.

Rubio graduated from the University of Florida in 1993 before earning a law degree from the University of Miami in 1996. His political career began when he worked for Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and later served on the West Miami City Commission.

In 1999, Rubio entered the Florida House of Representatives, where he served as majority leader (2003–06) and speaker (2006–08).

Rubio’s First Term in the Senate

Rubio entered the U.S. Senate race in 2009, running for the seat vacated by Mel Martinez. He faced Republican Governor Charlie Crist in a contentious primary, but after Crist left the party and ran as an independent, Rubio secured his party’s backing.

Rubio won the 2010 general election by a significant margin. In the Senate, Rubio was a staunch conservative and a leader of the Tea Party movement, opposing gun control, the Affordable Care Act, same-sex marriage, and environmental regulations.

However, he broke with many Republicans by supporting a 2013 immigration reform proposal that offered a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, though the bill ultimately failed. Rubio was also a proponent of an interventionist foreign policy and opposed the normalization of relations with Cuba.

Presidential Campaign and Shift to Conservative Populism

In April 2015, Rubio announced his candidacy for the 2016 presidential election. His platform emphasized a balanced budget, tax reform, and stronger border security.

Initially favored by the Republican establishment, his campaign struggled against Donald Trump’s increasing popularity. After losing the Florida primary, Rubio suspended his presidential bid but later sought re-election for the Senate and won a second term.

During the Trump administration, Rubio’s stance evolved, and he emerged as a key supporter of the president.

Following the 2020 election, Rubio backed Trump’s claims of widespread voter fraud, though he ultimately voted to certify the election results after the January 6 Capitol attack.

Rubio’s Third Senate Term and Appointment as Secretary of State

In 2022, Rubio was re-elected to a third term in the Senate. As the 2024 presidential race heated up, Rubio became a possible vice-presidential pick for Trump.

However, after Trump chose J.D. Vance as his running mate, Rubio’s policy positions shifted further in line with Trump’s views, notably on abortion. In a significant move, Rubio supported the change in the Republican platform to give states the power to decide on abortion laws.

Following Trump’s victory in 2024, he appointed Rubio as Secretary of State, a role that Rubio assumed on January 20, 2025.

Personal Life

Marco Rubio is married to Jeanette Dousdebes, whom he met during his teenage years. The couple married in 1998 and has four children. Rubio is the author of a memoir, An American Son (2012), and a policy book, American Dreams: Restoring Economic Opportunity for Everyone (2015).

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