Staff Reports
Former President Donald Trump is considering Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) as a potential vice president, despite some potential obstacles. The 12th Amendment states that two individuals from the same state cannot be on the ballot for president and vice president, which could complicate a Trump-Rubio ticket. Since both men are from Florida, the state’s 30 Electoral College members would not be able to vote for them.
Despite this potential hurdle, there are advantages to choosing Rubio as a running mate. Rubio’s appeal to Latino voters and his position as a sitting senator could benefit Trump. Additionally, selecting Rubio could create tension with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who challenged Trump for the party’s nomination in the 2024 primary. Speculation suggests that Trump may want Rubio to resign from the Senate immediately if chosen as vice president, creating a vacancy and preventing DeSantis from making a long-lasting appointment. However, the risk of giving up Florida’s Electoral College votes has deterred Trump from fully committing to the idea.
One option for Trump could be to change his own residency to a different state to avoid the issue. This is not unprecedented, as George W. Bush and Dick Cheney faced a similar situation in the 2000 election, with Cheney ultimately changing his residency to Wyoming to resolve the problem.
The decision about a running mate is crucial, and Trump’s consideration of Rubio shows his strategic thinking as he weighs the potential benefits and challenges of each option.
