Rep. Val Demings to challenge Sen. Marco Rubio in 2022

NBC NEWS – Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., is planning to challenge Sen. Marco Rubio in 2022, according to an NBC News source.

“Val is an impressive and formidable candidate whose potential entrance would make the race against Rubio highly competitive,” said a national Democrat with knowledge of the party’s strategy on the Senate seat.

Demings hinted in April at entering the Senate race during an interview with MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart.

“I have received calls and texts and messages from people all over the state asking me to run because they feel that they are not represented and their voices are not heard,” she said. “I want to go, Jonathan, to the position where I can do the most good. And be the most effective and do the most work. My home state of Florida deserves that.”

Politico first reported Demings’ bid.

Demings is the most high profile Democrat contender to take on Rubio. Rubio is planning to run for re-election for the seat, which he has served in since 2011.

Demings has served in the House since 2017. She also served as chief of Orlando’s police department between 2007 and 2011. Her husband is the mayor of Orange County.

Last year, Demings received national attention when she served as an impeachment manager in the first Senate trial of former President Donald Trump.

She was also on the shortlist to be selected as President Joe Biden’s vice president before he picked Kamala Harris as his running mate.  

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