Rep. Marlin Stutzman, one of the founding members of the House Freedom Caucus, says he is backing Secretary of State Marco Rubio for president in 2028. His decision comes after Republicans suffered major losses in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
“I’m all in,” Stutzman said, describing Rubio as someone who could bring people together. He also urged Republicans to start considering how to rebuild after losing control of both chambers of Congress.
With Republicans unable to advance legislation as they did before, Stutzman said the party needs to communicate more effectively. He suggested changing its approach to immigration, including shifting away from emphasizing deportations.
Republicans should highlight their role in securing the border, he said, then look for a way forward for people living in the country illegally who follow the law. Stutzman suggested work visas, but not citizenship.
Democrats made gains in federal and state races Tuesday, including in districts Republicans had expected to hold. Many contests remain uncalled, but Democrats are projected to win at least 54 Senate seats. In the House, current projections put Democrats at 240 seats and Republicans at 147.
Democrats also won several unexpected gubernatorial races, including in Texas and Iowa. As the scale of the losses became clear, Republicans began publicly debating how the party should respond.
Vice President JD Vance sought to distance himself from the war in Iran, which is seen as one factor behind voters turning away from Republicans. In a lengthy post on X, he argued that the war was the reason the party lost, adding that any discussion about what comes next should begin with an honest assessment of that decision.
Vance and Rubio are both viewed as leading possibilities for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028. Whether their roles in the Trump administration will help or hinder their potential campaigns remains unclear.
