After devoting much of the 2016 election cycle running for president, Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., took a big step on Tuesday toward retaining his seat after being projected to easily win the state's Republican primary. 

Rubio easily dispatched Carlos Beruff to win the primary. Rubio will face U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy in November's general election after Murphy won his Democratic Party primary on Tuesday. 

Despite a hostile presidential primary, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump had endorsed Rubio in his reelection bid.

Meanwhile, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Tuesday was victorious in the primary for her Miami-area congressional seat, easily winning over businessman Tim Canova.