By Reggie Connell, Managing Editor
Val Demings and Marco Rubio are two of the most visible figures in Florida politics. Demings, a three-term Congresswoman was also a House Impeachment manager, and on a shortlist to be a vice presidential candidate with President Joe Biden, and Rubio, a two-term Senator who also ran for president in 2016, have gained strong name recognition for themselves both statewide and nationally.
Now, they are likely to face-off against each other in a 2022 election for the US Senate.
Demings announced Wednesday her intention to run against Rubio in a video posted on social media and on her campaign website.
“I'm running for US Senate because I will never tire of standing up for what is right," she said. "Never tire of serving Florida. Never tire of doing good."
US Rep. Val Demings
Demings has represented Florida's 10th congressional district since 2017, which covers Apopka, parts of Orlando, and Winter Garden. From 2007 to 2011, she was the Orlando Police Chief, its first female chief, capping a 27-year career with the department.
Demings was one of seven children. Her father worked as a janitor, while her mother was a maid. They lived in Mandarin, a neighborhood in Jacksonville. She attended segregated schools in the 1960s, graduating from Wolfson High School in the 1970s.
“When you grow up in the South poor, Black and female, you have to have faith in progress and opportunity,” said Demings.
Rubio was elected to the United States Senate in 2010. In April 2015, he ran for president instead of seeking re-election to the Senate. He suspended his campaign in March 2016 after losing the Florida Republican primary to the eventual winner of the presidential election, Donald Trump. He then decided to run for re-election to the Senate, winning a second term later that year.
Shortly after Demings' announcement, Bracy released the following statement:
Today, Congresswoman Demings officially announced her run for the US Senate, opening up the seat for the 10th Congressional District [of Florida]. St. Sen. Randolph Bracy (D-Ocoee) is poised to take up her mantle and build upon the great work she's done.
Bracy was elected to the Florida State Senate in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. He previously served two terms in the Florida House of Representatives.
State Sen. Randolph Bracy
"I salute the incredible work of Congresswoman Demings on behalf of the constituents of Florida's 10th District in Congress and continue building on the work of Congresswoman Demings," Bracy said.
In his statement, Bracy says he will run the most aggressive grassroots campaign in the district's history.
"I will take my message of justice and equity for all to every voter in this district. I intend to assemble a grassroots movement and engage with every community. I will run the kind of modern, well-funded, people-driven campaign that this district expects from their representative in Congress."
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