Conservative voters roared in a standing ovation Friday at the Values Voter Summit in Washington after Sen. Marco Rubio Marco Antonio RubioMurky TikTok deal raises questions about China's role Sunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election Florida senators pushing to keep Daylight Savings Time during pandemic MORE (R-Fla.) announced Speaker John Boehner John Andrew BoehnerLongtime House parliamentarian to step down Five things we learned from this year's primaries Bad blood between Pelosi, Meadows complicates coronavirus talks MORE's (R-Ohio) plans to retire.



Rubio, who is running for president, shared the news that broke just before his speech, working it into prepared remarks where he questioned why a Republican Congress isn't "able to stop our country from sliding in the wrong direction."

"Just a few minutes ago, Speaker Boehner John Andrew BoehnerLongtime House parliamentarian to step down Five things we learned from this year's primaries Bad blood between Pelosi, Meadows complicates coronavirus talks MORE announced that he will be resigning," Rubio said to thunderous applause.

He told the crowd it is time for Republicans to "turn the page."

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"With all due respect to people who serve in government — it is important at this moment, with respect to him and the service he has provided to our country — it’s not about him, and I’m not here today to bash anyone, but the time has come to turn the page."

Boehner shocked Washington on Friday morning by announcing that he will resign the Speakership and his congressional seat in October.

HE'S has often clashed with conservatives during his tenure, leading many of the 2016 hopefuls to bash the House leader from the campaign trail.

Boehner is also trying to avoid a government shutdown next week amid a battle over funding for Planned Parenthood.

—Updated at 10:24 a.m.