Rep. David Jolly Drops Out Of Florida Senate Race

Rep. David Jolly (R-Fla.) has dropped out of Florida's Senate race, saying he will run for re-election instead.

Jolly's move Friday comes after Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said he was considering running for re-election -- after repeatedly saying previously he would not . Florida Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, a friend of Rubio’s who is running for his seat, encouraged him to run in the aftermath of the Orlando shooting, according to Politico .

Jolly, who said he would step aside if Rubio ultimately ran for re-election, told CNN Friday that Rubio had changed his mind .

"Marco is saying he's getting in," Jolly said.

A spokesman for Jolly later tried to clarify the comment, saying the congressman "has no actual knowledge of a Rubio decision," according to Reuters news agency. 

Many Republican lawmakers have pressured Rubio to run again because they're nervous the GOP could lose his seat to a Democrat. Several have spoken publicly in favor of the move, including Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas).

"It's obviously a very personal decision, but I think it would be good for the party, it would be good for the Senate -- I'd like to see him do it," Cornyn told CNN in May.

Rubio must make a decision by June 24, the state's deadline for filing for office.