US Election 2016 candidate profile: Marco Rubio, Republican

Months have been spent toiling for the election campaigns, and the battle for the White House is about to get real starting Feb. 1. Candidates will run for party nominations which will eventually deliver the final candidates for the 45th president of the United States. The following is a brief account of one of the 12 Republican candidates trying their luck for the White House this year.

Candidate

Marco Antonio Rubio, Republican

Who Marco Rubio is

Rubio, a Cuban by origin, is a Junior US Senator from Florida who bagged a seat at the US Senate in 2011 following a stunning victory at the general election in 2010. He started his journey in politics in 1998 as the city commissioner of West Miami.

He was eventually elected to the Florida House of Representatives and later went on to become the speaker of the chamber. Rubio announced his intentions to run for the US Senate on his website in 2009. In 2010, Rubio won a primary bid against the then-liberal incumbent Republican Governor Charlie Crist.

Rubio announced his candidacy for the presidential election of 2016 on Apr. 13, 2015.

What Marco Rubio wants

Rubio opposes capital gains tax and supports a flat federal tax rate. He is also against same-sex marriages and believes marijuana cannot be used recreationally.

Rubio said he will focus on creating stronger family bonds by bringing about reforms in the tax code, supporting paid family leaves and formulating other policies. His official campaign website also recognises policies for America’s senior citizens, small business owners, workers, farmers, gun owners and veterans.

Who Marco Rubio is fighting against

Rubio is one of the 12 Republicans running for the party’s presidential nominations. His rivals for the Republican nomination are Ted Cruz, Ben Carson, Donald Trump, Rick Santorum, Rand Paul, Carly Fiorina, Jim Gilmore, Mike Huckabee, John Kasich, Jeb Bush and Chris Christie.