Rubio tells Federalist Society 'politics requires more' than winning, shrugs off losses

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday brushed off Republicans' losses in the Nov. 3 midterm elections. He told a conservative legal group that winning elections is not enough. ¹

It was his first major address since Election Day. He gave it to the Federalist Society, a conservative lawyers' group, at its National Lawyers Convention in Washington. ¹

Politics requires more than simply winning elections.

Rubio told the crowd that "great things that last are built in decades, not election cycles." He also said there would be more victories and more defeats. ¹

Power beyond Washington

Rubio said government is not the only source of political power. He pointed to universities, the press and the wider world of civic groups. ¹

From Channel GOPIlhan Omar wins re-election in MinnesotaIlhan Omar · 252 plays · captioned, with the source named

Elections decide who holds office for a season, but elections, they do not decide by themselves what our institutions teach or what our lawyers believe,

NBC News reported that Rubio's name has been floated as a possible 2028 presidential candidate. ¹ Reuters reported that the speech fed speculation about a run, which Rubio has denied. ³

Attacks on courts and international law

Much of the speech went after international law. Rubio criticized the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, a tribunal in The Hague that tries war crimes and genocide. He defended the U.S. capture of Venezuela's former president, Nicolás Maduro, and the continuing war in Iran. ¹

The Trump administration imposed sweeping sanctions on the court last month. ¹ Reuters reported they take effect in April unless the court's supporters reach an agreement with the United States. ³ AFP reported that the U.S. signed but never ratified the treaty that created the court. ²

At home, Rubio attacked what he called "activist courts" that "govern by injunction." An injunction is a judge's order to stop a government action. His words echo President Donald Trump's repeated attacks on judges who rule against him. ¹

The Supreme Court has ruled against Trump this year on tariffs, birthright citizenship, mail-in ballots and the firing of a Federal Reserve member. ¹ After the tariff ruling, Trump called the justices a "disgrace to our nation." ¹

The Democratic response

The speech did not draw a Democratic reply in the coverage we reviewed. In July, though, Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota called Rubio's plan to dismantle the International Criminal Court "reckless and dangerous." She argued it weakens the rule of law and global accountability. ⁴

Omar said the best way to avoid scrutiny from the court is to avoid committing atrocities and to investigate credible allegations openly. ⁴

Why it matters

That matters because the speech shows how some Republicans plan to talk about the loss. Rubio did not address why voters turned away from the party. He argued instead that the fight over ideas and institutions goes on. ¹

What happens next is a question of oversight. Democrats are set to take control of Congress in January, and Rubio's department, including the Iran war and the boat strikes he defended, may come under their questions. Rubio gave no sign he would change course. ¹

The Record

1. Jul 13, 2026Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, called Rubio's plan to dismantle the International Criminal Court "reckless and dangerous." ⁴
2. Nov 3, 2026Republicans lost the midterm elections. ³
3. Nov 13, 2026Rubio gave his first major post-election speech, to the Federalist Society in Washington. ¹

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<h2>Rubio tells Federalist Society &#39;politics requires more&#39; than winning, shrugs off losses</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/rubio-tells-federalist-society-politics-requires-more-than-winning-shrugs-off-losses">The GOP Files</a> on Friday, November 13, 2026.</em></p> <p>Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday brushed off Republicans&#39; losses in the Nov. 3 midterm elections. He told a conservative legal group that winning elections is not enough.</p> <p>It was his first major address since Election Day. He gave it to the Federalist Society, a conservative lawyers&#39; group, at its National Lawyers Convention in Washington.</p> <blockquote><p>Politics requires more than simply winning elections.</p><p>&mdash; Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, Republican</p></blockquote> <p>Rubio told the crowd that &quot;great things that last are built in decades, not election cycles.&quot; He also said there would be more victories and more defeats.</p> <h2>Power beyond Washington</h2> <p>Rubio said government is not the only source of political power. He pointed to universities, the press and the wider world of civic groups.</p> <blockquote><p>Elections decide who holds office for a season, but elections, they do not decide by themselves what our institutions teach or what our lawyers believe,</p><p>&mdash; Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, Republican</p></blockquote> <p>NBC News reported that Rubio&#39;s name has been floated as a possible 2028 presidential candidate. Reuters reported that the speech fed speculation about a run, which Rubio has denied.</p> <h2>Attacks on courts and international law</h2> <p>Much of the speech went after international law. Rubio criticized the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, a tribunal in The Hague that tries war crimes and genocide. He defended the U.S. capture of Venezuela&#39;s former president, Nicolás Maduro, and the continuing war in Iran.</p> <p>The Trump administration imposed sweeping sanctions on the court last month. Reuters reported they take effect in April unless the court&#39;s supporters reach an agreement with the United States. AFP reported that the U.S. signed but never ratified the treaty that created the court.</p> <p>At home, Rubio attacked what he called &quot;activist courts&quot; that &quot;govern by injunction.&quot; An injunction is a judge&#39;s order to stop a government action. His words echo President Donald Trump&#39;s repeated attacks on judges who rule against him.</p> <p>The Supreme Court has ruled against Trump this year on tariffs, birthright citizenship, mail-in ballots and the firing of a Federal Reserve member. After the tariff ruling, Trump called the justices a &quot;disgrace to our nation.&quot;</p> <h2>The Democratic response</h2> <p>The speech did not draw a Democratic reply in the coverage we reviewed. In July, though, Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota called Rubio&#39;s plan to dismantle the International Criminal Court &quot;reckless and dangerous.&quot; She argued it weakens the rule of law and global accountability.</p> <p>Omar said the best way to avoid scrutiny from the court is to avoid committing atrocities and to investigate credible allegations openly.</p> <h2>Why it matters</h2> <p>That matters because the speech shows how some Republicans plan to talk about the loss. Rubio did not address why voters turned away from the party. He argued instead that the fight over ideas and institutions goes on.</p> <p>What happens next is a question of oversight. Democrats are set to take control of Congress in January, and Rubio&#39;s department, including the Iran war and the boat strikes he defended, may come under their questions. Rubio gave no sign he would change course.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/rubio-tells-federalist-society-politics-requires-more-than-winning-shrugs-off-losses">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/rubio-tells-federalist-society-politics-requires-more-than-winning-shrugs-off-losses.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. NBC News, “Rubio urges conservatives to uplift their ideology, brushes off Republicans' midterm losses” (2026-11-14). nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/rubio-urges-conser
2. AFP via Breitbart, “Rubio takes swipe at international law, attacks ICC” (2026-11-13). breitbart.com/news/rubio-takes-swipe-at-international-law-at
3. Reuters via The Standard (Hong Kong), “Rubio assails international court in speech to conservative legal group” (2026-11-13). thestandard.com.hk/world/article/348481/Rubio-assails-intern
4. Office of Rep. Ilhan Omar, “Rep. Omar statement on Rubio ICC announcement” (2026-07-13). omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-statement-rubio

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