Following the Republican Party's significant losses in the recent midterm elections, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to deliver a major speech Friday at the Federalist Society's National Lawyers Convention, with attendees eager to gauge his vision for the party's future and potential presidential aspirations for 2028.
Rubio's address, the Barbara Olson Memorial Lecture, is anticipated to touch upon the successes and failures of the past administration and his plans moving forward, particularly concerning foreign policy's role in election outcomes. "I think it will be an interesting speech to see what he says post midterms," attendee Isaiah McKinney told Fox News Digital. "I hope he addresses the foreign policy implications and how he thinks foreign policy played a role into that, into the election results."
The Republican Party experienced substantial defeats in the midterms, losing a net 41 House seats and eight Senate seats, marking one of the largest simultaneous losses in both chambers of Congress since 1958. Discussions about the election results have included analyses of factors such as the war in Iran and gas prices, with some prominent Republicans, including former President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, offering their perspectives. Rubio has not yet publicly commented on the election's impact.
Attendees at the convention, which draws prominent lawyers affiliated with the conservative movement, are also keen to understand if Rubio harbors presidential ambitions. "There are a lot of people in the room who are going to be wondering if he's still planning on running for president someday," said Rachel Paulose, a former U.S. attorney. "That will be a question that will be top of mind for a lot of people."
Legal commentator John Shu noted that Rubio, as Secretary of State, might discuss budgetary processes, including the funding of the State Department by a Democratic-controlled House and Senate, or the U.S. strikes on suspected drug cartels off the coast of Venezuela in fall 2025, which drew criticism from some Democratic lawmakers.
Former President Trump has previously speculated about a potential 2028 ticket pairing Vance and Rubio. Rubio, who ran for president in 2016, previously served in the U.S. Senate representing Florida from 2010 until Trump appointed him Secretary of State in 2025. He is the son of Cuban immigrants.
"I don't know anything about who's going to run in 2028, but what I appreciate about Secretary Rubio is he is traveling all around the country and all around the world to talk about the importance of American values, what binds us, what brings us all together, and the importance of our Constitution," said Iowa Solicitor General Eric Wessan.
Rubio's address follows a trip to Paris for G-7 meetings focusing on international challenges such as Iran and Ukraine. The State Department and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.