Wasserman Schultz Won't Run for Senate

By Alexis Levinson

Posted March 17, 2015 at 1:51pm

Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz will seek re-election to her House seat and will not run for Senate, she confirmed to Roll Call Tuesday in the halls of Congress.

The Democratic National Committee chairwoman had been considering a bid for the potentially open seat, thanks to Republican Sen. Marco Rubio looking at a run for president. “I have gotten tremendous support from my constituents in my own district, from people across Florida, from donors urging me to run for the Senate,” she told CNN.

But, she said, she would instead seek re-election and continue in her dual post at the helm of the national party.

“I will be running for re-election to the United States House of Representatives and serving my full four-year term that President Obama has asked me to serve as chair of the DNC,” Wasserman Schultz said.

Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., is reportedly set to announce his candidacy for the Senate seat next week, and Democrats are focused on backing him. Rep. Alan Grayson could also contend for the Democratic nomination.

Republicans are already preparing for a possible Rubio presidential bid. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater has already spoken to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera is also reportedly considering a bid.