Why Rubio

Reclaim Cuba PAC is an independent committee of Americans of every background. We support Marco Rubio for President in 2028 because of his experience, his age, his temperament, and his record. Every fact on this page links to a public source.

We do not coordinate with Marco Rubio, his staff, or any campaign. We use only public information.

Marco Rubio has not announced a 2028 candidacy. Facts as of November 3rd, 2026.

Nearly 68 years The case His path A fair comparison What the Secretary said Share

Nearly 68 years of communist rule

Time the Cuban people have lived under communist rule

More than 67 years have passed since January 1st, 1959.

Counted from midnight in Havana on January 1st, 1959, the day the Castro regime seized power.

On January 1st, 1959, revolutionary forces seized control of Havana [1]. On December 2nd, 1961, Fidel Castro declared that he was a Marxist-Leninist [1]. Since January 1st, 1959, the regime that seized power that day has ruled Cuba by fear. Since October 1965, it has governed through the Communist Party of Cuba [16] [17]. On January 1st, 2027, that rule reaches 68 years.

In a May 20th, 2025, statement, the U.S. State Department said Cubans have stood up against over six decades of brutal repression, censorship, and human rights violations at the hands of the illegitimate Cuban regime [2]. In July 2026, it said hundreds of Cubans remain unjustly detained for the simple sin of asking for basic rights, opportunities, and dignity [3]. We see the Communist Party of Cuba for what it is: a criminal party that has held a nation hostage for more than six decades.

Why 2028 is Marco's moment

We believe 2028 is the best chance we will ever have to end the communist regime in Cuba, and we believe it is the only chance. These are our reasons.

  • The pressure is real, and it is new. On May 1st, 2026, President Trump signed Executive Order 14404 to sanction those responsible for repression in Cuba [4]. On May 7th, 2026, Secretary Rubio designated GAESA, a Cuban umbrella enterprise controlled by the military, under that order [4]. In the week of September 30th, 2026, Treasury published new Cuba Sanctions Regulations, and amended older rules to close loopholes the regime has long used [5]. On October 15th, 2026, the State Department designated the bank BICSA under the same order [6].
  • Pressure only works if it continues. The regime has outlasted president after president [1]. The next president can lock in this pressure or let it fade.
  • Marco Rubio is the son of Cuban immigrants who knows this regime. He was drawn to public service by conversations with a grandfather who saw how communism destroyed his homeland [7]. We believe he combines that knowledge with a long record in the Senate and in the State Department.
  • The moment will not wait. Another year of regime rule is another year of prisoners, hunger, and fear. We are done waiting. We want the end of communism in Cuba in our lifetime.

The case for Marco Rubio

Experience. Age. Temperament. Record.

Experience

  • Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives from 2006 to 2008, after serving in that House from 2000 [8].
  • United States Senator from Florida from January 3rd, 2011, until January 20th, 2025, which is 14 years [8].
  • Former senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and former Vice Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence [7].
  • Sworn in as the 72nd Secretary of State on January 21st, 2025 [7].
  • Unsuccessful candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 [8].

Age

  • Marco Rubio was born on May 28th, 1971 [8]. He will be 57 years old in 2028.
  • That is old enough to carry decades of public service. It is young enough to serve two full terms with energy. A president who takes office at 57 would finish a second term at 65.
  • The fight to free Cuba will take stamina, patience, and years. He has both the experience and the time to see it through.

Temperament

  • On January 20th, 2025, the Senate confirmed Marco Rubio as Secretary of State by a vote of 99 to 0 [9]. No senator voted against him.
  • Senators of both parties spoke in favor of his nomination that day [9].
  • Since May 2025, he has also served as National Security Adviser, and on September 22nd, 2026, news outlets reported that the role was made permanent. News reports describe him as the first person to hold both posts since Henry Kissinger [10] [22].
  • Temperament cannot be measured with a number. This is our view: when leaders of both parties trust a man with a unanimous vote, and a president trusts him with two of the hardest jobs in government at once, that is a steady hand.

Record

  • During the first Trump Administration, he worked to hold members of the Cuban regime accountable, including the dictatorship's military holding company [7].
  • February 25th, 2025: the State Department, under his leadership, expanded visa restrictions on those responsible for Cuba's labor export program [11].
  • July 11th, 2025: the State Department designated senior regime figures for gross violations of human rights, restricted visas for judicial and prison officials tied to the detention and torture of protesters, and added 11 regime-linked properties to its Cuba lists [12].
  • May 7th, 2026, and the week of September 30th, 2026: sanctions on GAESA and its leadership, and new Treasury regulations that tighten pressure on the regime [4] [5].
  • Beyond Cuba, he wrote and passed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and co-led the Hong Kong Relations Act and the VERDAD Act [7].
  • The regime is still in place. Sanctions are not victory. That is why the work must continue until Cuba is free.

From West Miami to Secretary of State

Seven public steps. Every date links to a source.

Marco Rubio began in local office and rose step by step to the highest levels of the federal government. Here is his public record in order, with the dates published by official sources.

Reclaim Cuba PAC is not affiliated with Marco Rubio, the U.S. Government, the Florida House of Representatives, or the Florida Legislature.

  1. 1998 to 2000

    West Miami City Commission

    The earliest office listed in his congressional biography is the West Miami City Commission, where he served from 1998 to 2000 [8]. The Florida House also lists him as a City Commissioner of West Miami [18].

  2. Official legislative portrait of Marco Rubio as a Florida state representative. He wears a dark suit, a light blue shirt, and a red striped tie, and smiles against a gray background.
    Official legislative portrait, 2004. Photo: Florida House of Representatives (Florida public record). Via Wikimedia Commons file page

    2000 to 2008

    Florida House of Representatives

    He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives on January 25th, 2000 [18], and served there from 2000 to 2008 [8]. He served as Majority Leader from 2003 to 2006 [8].

  3. November 2006 to November 2008

    Speaker of the Florida House

    He served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives from 2006 to 2008 [8] [18]. A Florida Legislature photo caption records that he was sworn in as Speaker on November 21st, 2006 [20]. The next Speaker took office on November 18th, 2008 [19].

  4. Official United States Senate portrait of Marco Rubio from January 2011. He wears a dark pinstripe suit with a gold lapel pin, a light blue shirt, and a red and blue striped tie, and smiles against a blue background.
    Official portrait, 112th Congress, January 2011. Photo: U.S. Senate Photographic Studio. Public domain (U.S. government work). Via Wikimedia Commons file page

    January 3rd, 2011 to January 20th, 2025

    United States Senate

    He was elected to the United States Senate in 2010 and served as a United States Senator from Florida from January 3rd, 2011, until January 20th, 2025, which is 14 years [8]. He was reelected in 2016 and again in 2022 [8]. He also served as Vice Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence [7].

  5. 2016

    Candidate for President

    He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 [8].

  6. Official State Department portrait of Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, January 2025. He wears a dark navy suit with a small American flag lapel pin and a blue patterned tie. An American flag stands behind him.
    Official portrait, January 2025. Photo: U.S. Department of State. Public domain (U.S. government work). Via Wikimedia Commons file page

    January 21st, 2025

    Secretary of State

    The Senate confirmed him as Secretary of State on January 20th, 2025, by a vote of 99 to 0 [9]. He was sworn in as the 72nd Secretary of State on January 21st, 2025 [7].

  7. May 1st, 2025 to today

    National Security Adviser

    On May 1st, 2025, the White House announced that the Secretary of State would also serve as National Security Adviser while continuing his work at the State Department [21]. On September 22nd, 2026, news outlets reported that the President formally named him the permanent National Security Adviser [10] [22]. Today he holds both posts.

These are official portraits and public records, shown as published and not altered. U.S. government photos are not subject to copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Florida photos are Florida public records. Showing a photo does not mean that the person shown or any government body endorses this page. Where no free photo exists, or where a photo would come from campaign material, we use a plain card. Reclaim Cuba PAC is not affiliated with Marco Rubio or the U.S. Government. Reclaim Cuba PAC is also not affiliated with the Florida House of Representatives or the Florida Legislature.

A fair comparison

Vice President J.D. Vance has a strong future in American public life. He served four years in the Marine Corps, including a tour in Iraq [13]. His time will come. We say that with respect.

But 2028 is Marco's moment. Our case rests on four things: experience, age, temperament, and record. Here are the public facts side by side.

Public facts about Marco Rubio and J.D. Vance
TopicMarco RubioJ.D. Vance
BornMay 28th, 1971 [8]1984 [14]
U.S. SenateJanuary 3rd, 2011 to January 20th, 2025 [8]2023 to 2025 [14]
Earlier serviceFlorida House 2000 to 2008, Speaker 2006 to 2008 [8]U.S. Marine Corps, four years, with a tour in Iraq [13]
Current officeSecretary of State since January 21st, 2025, and National Security Adviser [7] [10] [22]50th Vice President, sworn in January 20th, 2025 [15]

Facts as of November 3rd, 2026. Sources are linked in the list below. Temperament is our opinion and is not measured in the table.

Experience: 14 years in the Senate, including service on the Foreign Relations and Intelligence committees, and now the State Department. Age: born in 1971 and in 1984, both men have many years ahead of them. Marco is ready now, and Vice President Vance has time on his side. Temperament: a 99 to 0 confirmation vote. Record: years of work on Cuba policy, from the Senate floor to the sanctions of 2026.

This is not an attack on anyone. Vice President Vance serves our country, and he has a long career ahead of him. We simply believe this moment belongs to Marco Rubio.

What the Secretary of State has said

Short, public statements by Marco Rubio as Secretary of State. Each one links to the official source.

“I commend all those who have stood up against over six decades of brutal repression, censorship, and human rights violations at the hands of the illegitimate Cuban regime. Their tireless advocacy for a free, democratic, and prosperous Cuba remains a beacon of hope and resistance for the world.”

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, May 20th, 2025, U.S. Department of State. Read it on state.gov

“The U.S. will continue to stand for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of Cuba, and make clear no illegitimate, dictatorial regimes are welcome in our hemisphere.”

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, July 11th, 2025, U.S. Department of State. Read it on state.gov

“Cuba continues to profit from the forced labor of its workers and the regime’s abusive and coercive labor practices are well documented.”

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, February 25th, 2025, on the Cuban labor export program, U.S. Department of State. Read it on state.gov

“Just 90 miles from the American homeland, the Cuban regime has brought the island to ruin and auctioned off the island as a platform for foreign intelligence, military and terror operations.”

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, May 7th, 2026, U.S. Department of State. Read it on state.gov

“To this day, hundreds of Cubans remain unjustly detained for the simple sin of asking for basic rights, opportunities, and dignity.”

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, July 11th, 2026, U.S. Department of State. Read it on state.gov

These are official statements posted by the U.S. Department of State. Reclaim Cuba PAC is not affiliated with Marco Rubio or the U.S. Government.

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Sources

  1. U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Inter-American Affairs, Chronology of Cuban Affairs, 1958 to 1998 (archived): 1997-2001.state.gov
  2. U.S. Department of State, Message to the Cuban People on Independence Day, May 20th, 2025: state.gov
  3. U.S. Department of State, Five Years After the July 11 Demonstrations, Cubans Deserve A Better Future, July 11th, 2026: state.gov
  4. U.S. Department of State, U.S. Sanctions Target Cuba's Military Regime, Elites, May 7th, 2026: state.gov
  5. U.S. Department of State, U.S. Tightens Cuba Sanctions to Counter Regime Repression, September 30th, 2026: state.gov
  6. U.S. Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control, FAQ 1276 (BICSA designation of October 15th, 2026): ofac.treasury.gov
  7. U.S. Department of State, Biography of Secretary Marco Rubio: state.gov
  8. U.S. House of Representatives, History, Art and Archives, Rubio, Marco (Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress): history.house.gov
  9. U.S. Senate Daily Press, Monday, January 20th, 2025 (confirmation vote of 99 to 0): dailypress.senate.gov
  10. News report, Fox News, Marco Rubio made permanent national security adviser like Kissinger: foxnews.com
  11. U.S. Department of State, Expansion of Visa Restrictions Policy for Individuals Exploiting Cuban Labor, February 25th, 2025: state.gov
  12. U.S. Department of State, Justice for the Cuban People on the Fourth Anniversary of the July 11 Protests, July 11th, 2025: state.gov
  13. The White House, Vice President JD Vance: whitehouse.gov
  14. Congress.gov, Member profile of J. D. Vance: congress.gov
  15. Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, 60th Inaugural Ceremonies: inaugural.senate.gov
  16. Library of Congress, Federal Research Division, Cuba: A Country Study, 2002, Government and Politics (the Communist Party of Cuba, founded in 1965; hosted by the U.S. Department of Justice): justice.gov
  17. Granma (official publication of the Communist Party of Cuba), October 6th, 2015, for the exact date of October 3rd, 1965, when the party took the name Communist Party of Cuba: en.granma.cu
  18. Florida House of Representatives, Marco Rubio, member record (leadership roles, January 25th, 2000, election, West Miami City Commissioner): flhouse.gov
  19. Florida House of Representatives, Ray Sansom, member record (Speaker from November 18th, 2008): flhouse.gov
  20. Florida Legislature photo caption for the swearing-in of Speaker Marco Rubio on November 21st, 2006 (Florida public record photo, Wikimedia Commons file page): commons.wikimedia.org
  21. The White House, Statement on the Nomination of Michael G. Waltz To Be United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, May 1st, 2025 (Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents, GovInfo): govinfo.gov
  22. News report, USA TODAY, Trump makes Marco Rubio his full-time national security adviser, September 22nd, 2026: usatoday.com
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