Florida Democratic Rep. Val Demings is reportedly planning to challenge incumbent Sen. Marco Rubio in Florida’s senate race in 2022 instead of challenging Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in the gubernatorial election.
Demings had been mulling a bid for governor, but told Democrats familiar with her plans that she could “do the most good” by trying to unseat Rubio, Politico reported Tuesday.
The Florida representative was once considered to be a potential running mate with then-presidential candidate Joe Biden, who ultimately chose then-California Sen. Kamala Harris.
After weighing whether to run for governor or senate, Rep. Val Demings decided to challenge Marco Rubiohttps://t.co/QHlEEmswK9
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) May 18, 2021
Demings is reportedly expected to make a decision on whether she will run in the next month, Politico reported. One adviser said there was a “98.6 percent chance” she would run, pointing to her recent fights with Republican Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan and frustration with Senate republicans.
“I would’ve supported her running for governor, but this is the right fit for her and for us,” 2010 Democratic Gubernatorial nominee Alex Sink told Politico.
Democratic Rep. Demings plans to challenge Sen. Rubio in 2022, according to a national Democrat with knowledge of the party’s strategy on the Senate seat. https://t.co/t3tD1ShtOL
— NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) May 18, 2021
Sink said, during a Zoom conference between Demings and Ruth’s List activists, that national democrats had expressed optimism that the representative had the best chance to break the tie in the Senate, Politico reported.
Supporters have also acknowledged that Rubio will not be an easy target, according to Politico, including a large party swing in the Hispanic vote, primarily towards Republicans. (RELATED: Trump Endorses Marco Rubio For His 2022 Senate Bid)
Demings recently made headlines in April after she publicly defended Columbus police officer Nicholas Reardon, who was involved in the shooting death of teenager Ma’Khia Bryant, saying he was “preventing a tragedy.”