Marco Rubio says he’s running again for US Senate

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. speaks during news conference in Doral, Fla., June 3, 2016. The Republican announced Wednesday, June 22, 2106, that he is running for re-election to his Florida Senate seat. (Alan Diaz/AP)

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks during a Republican primary night celebration rally in Miami, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, when he ended his campaign for the Republican nomination for president. (Paul Sancya/AP)

Sen. Marco Rubio speaks at a news conference after a shooting attack at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, June 12, 2016. (Kenvin Kolczynski/Reuters)

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By ERICA WERNER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

June 22, 2016 - 7:11 am

WASHINGTON — Former Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio says he will run for re-election to his Florida Senate seat.

In a statement Wednesday Rubio says he is reversing his plans to retire after concluding it was important to continue with public service at a critical time for the nation.

The first-term senator says that control of the Senate could come down to the race in Florida, which would mean the future of the Supreme Court as well as critical policy deals could be determined by the Florida Senate race.

Rubio says that “the stakes for our nation could not be higher.”

Rubio had been under intense pressure from party leaders including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to run because they were concerned the other candidates couldn’t keep the seat in GOP hands.