U.S. Rep. Val Demings (D-FL-10) raised $1 million in the first few days of her campaign against Florida Senator Marco Rubio for the 2022 election.
The early momentum comes as Demings appears to the likely Democratic nominee for a Senate seat that Democrats need to expand their majority in the U.S. Senate. Florida continues to be a major battleground state, and Republicans, likewise, will look to gain ground in the U.S. Senate by keeping Rubio in his current post.
The $1 million pulled in by the Demings campaign is an early indicator it will likely be another highly contested, expensive Florida race. Florida is notorious for running expensive campaigns, even in midterm elections.
Rubio had amassed more than $4 million by the end of March and his fundraising numbers have only increased. It will be an uphill battle for Demings, but Democrats feel they can compete alongside Rubio in campaign cash.
Demings became nationally known last year when she was on a short-list as a potential vice-presidential selection for then-presidential-candidate Joe Biden.
Demings is also touting an early endorsement and donations from EMILY’S List, a political action committee working to get female Democratic candidates elected to office. They are widely known as being supporters of progressive candidates and policies expanding access to abortion.
“She was first elected to Congress in 2016 and has since been a leader on issues including criminal justice, economic equality, and gender discrimination. We know that her hard work will only continue as a U.S. senator,” said Emily Cain, executive director of EMILY’s List, shared first with POLITICO. “Florida’s women and families have been abandoned by their senators in favor of an extreme, partisan agenda. We are confident that Val Demings will always prioritize people over politics and will better the lives of Floridians.”
Collective PAC, who works to elect black candidates, and Heights for America PAC, who works to elect black women, have each offered their endorsements, as well.
Florida Democrats are facing a challenge since Republicans have dominated the state’s political landscape for over two decades and only one Democrat is currently elected to statewide office.
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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.
