According to various reports, U.S. Rep. Val Demings (D-FL-10) is planning to launch a campaign run against current U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) in the 2022 election cycle. Demings had long been rumored to be seeking statewide office, but many were uncertain if she was challenging Gov. Ron DeSantis or Rubio. She said she mulled a gubernatorial run, but felt her chances were better running for Senate.
Demings rose in popularity after then-candidate Joe Biden announced she was on a short list as a potential running mate last year. Even before then, she rose in fame for being the first black female police chief for the City of Orlando. She was elected to Congress for the first time in 2016.
So far, former Florida Chief Financial Officer and one-time gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink has said she is backing Demings.
“I would’ve supported her running for governor, but this is the right fit for her and for us,” said Sink. “She’s going to draw a contrast between who she is and how she represents Florida vs. Marco Rubio, who a lot of people where I live never see him.”
During her time in Washington D.C., she was the impeachment manager for former President Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial and was the only non-lawyer on the committee.
Some say her background as a law enforcement officer isn’t ideal among the progressive wing of the Democrat Party, especially since allegations of excessive use of force by Orlando police officers came into question during her tenure as police chief.
Demings has said she has grown frustrated with DeSantis, but more so with Republican leadership in Washington.
“If I had to point to one thing, I think it’s the COVID bill and the way Republicans voted against it for no good reason,” said a close adviser to Demings. “That really helped push her over the edge. She also had this huge fight with [Ohio Republican Rep.] Jim Jordan and it brought that into focus. This fight is in Washington and it’s the right fight for her to continue.”
Democrats will be looking to secure more seats in the Senate, even though the out-of-power party does historically well in midterm elections. Also, the propsect of defeating Rubio will be challenging. He has already won two Senate elections and appeals to Spanish-speaking Hispanic communities of South Florida, a target demographic were President Donald Trump made gains in 2020.
Demings is now the second major Democrat looking to oust Rubio. U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL-7) announced her candidacy last week.
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Grant Holcomb is a reporter at the Florida Capital Star and the Star News Network. Follow Grant on Twitter and direct message tips.
Photo “Val Demings” by Val Demings.
