Now that the Senate majority is about to pass to Republican control, Mr. Rubio may have more opportunity to advance his agenda. He is in line to become chairman of a Foreign Relations subcommittee overseeing North America. That post will give him a perch to influence debate over President Barack Obama ’s proposed shift in policy toward Cuba, which Mr. Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, has vigorously opposed.
“I think he is going to find being in the majority and chairing a subcommittee a lot more fun than being a grunt in the minority,” said Ana Navarro, a friend and supporter of both Messrs. Bush and Rubio, who says she hopes Mr. Rubio runs for re-election. Added Al Cardenas, former chairman of the Florida GOP: “The upcoming majority in the Senate should provide him another incentive to do some good.”
At the same time, the rewards of being in the Senate majority could be short-lived, should Mr. Rubio decide to stay. The GOP faces a challenging Senate political map in 2016, because many more Republicans than Democrats are up for re-election.
Mr. Rubio has developed an array of legislative proposals, among them the immigration bill and proposals to combat poverty. He has been advocating a muscular foreign policy, clashing publicly last week with Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) over U.S. policy toward Cuba. Mr. Paul favored Mr. Obama’s move to normalize diplomatic relations, and Mr. Rubio opposed it.
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