ABC News(MIAMI) — Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican who failed in his bid for the GOP nomination for president, held onto his U.S. Senate seat by beating Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy.

Rubio had initially said he didn’t want to return to his job in the Senate and at one time promised to retire from politics if he did not win the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Once his bid for the White House proved unsuccessful, Rubio reconsidered his ambitions and announced his renewed interest in running for re-election.

Polling had suggested Rubio, who withdrew from the Republican presidential primary in March, had a narrow lead going into Election Day in the competitive swing state.

His opponent, Murphy, had earlier chose to run for the Senate rather than for re-election to the House.

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