WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 16: Congresswomen Val Demings speaks at the Trayvon Martin: Rest In Power screening on May 16, 2018 in Washington, DC. Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Less than a year ago, Sen. Kamala Harris officially stepped down from her position in Congress and assumed the role of Vice President. While she made history in her new role, Americans quickly noticed a gaping hole in the United States Senate. No Black women were left in the United States Senate after she left her position. In the upcoming midterm election, Rep. Val Demings is looking to change that. After weeks of rumors and hints, Demings officially launched her campaign to become the first Black woman to represent the state of Florida in the United States Senate.
“I’m running for the United States Senate because of two simple words: Never tired," she said during a short video announcing her intention to run for a seat in the U.S. Senate.
Demings will roll out her full platform in the coming months, but she made it clear from the start that she is looking to hold lawmakers in Washington accountable. Specifically, she noted that "no one is above the law."
“Unlike some in Washington, I never tired of standing up for what I believe is right, because no one is above the law,”
“But it turns out, there are some in Washington who prefer the same old tired ways of doing business.”
Demings will look to unseat former presidential candidate Marco Rubio in this upcoming election. While Rubio did emerge victorious in his battle with Patrick Murphy six years ago, he did not do so by a wide margin. Murphy was able to capture 44% of the popular vote during the 2016 race. More recently, former gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum earned 49% of the statewide vote in an election against Governor Ron DeSantis three years ago. Given recent trends, Demings and the Democratic Party have reason to believe that the state can turn blue in 2022.
Voters in the Sunshine State will take to the polls on November 8, 2022.
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