Rep. Val Demings Reportedly Plans To Challenge Marco Rubio for His Senate Seat
Democratic Rep. Val Demings of Florida has decided to challenge Republican Sen. Marco Rubio for his Senate seat next year, according to a new report. Demings, who was on the shortlist of possible vice presidential picks…

Democratic Rep. Val Demings of Florida has decided to challenge Republican Sen. Marco Rubio for his Senate seat next year, according to a new report.
Demings, who was on the shortlist of possible vice presidential picks for President Joe Biden, has not yet made a public announcement, but multiple sources contacted by Politico said her candidacy is a done deal.
Demings had indicated she was mulling a challenge to either Rubio or Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“I would’ve supported her running for governor, but this is the right fit for her and for us,” said Alex Sink, a Democratic state senator who lost the 2010 gubernatorial election to now-Sen. Rick Scott.
“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,” Sink said.
Politico quoted an adviser to Demings as saying the decision could change, but reported that Demings was irked that Senate Republicans did not back Biden’s COVID-19 rescue plan.
“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,” the adviser said. “That really helped push her over the edge. She also had this huge fight with Jim Jordan and it brought that into focus. This fight is in Washington and it’s the right fight for her to continue.”


