Demings 'seriously considering' challenging DeSantis or Rubio

[DonViejo]

The Florida Democrat told POLITICO she may run for governor or Senate in 2022.

By OLIVIA BEAVERS and MARC CAPUTO

04/23/2021 07:59 AM EDT

Florida Rep. Val Demings said she’s “seriously considering” a statewide bid against Sen. Marco Rubio or Gov. Ron DeSantis, boosting Democratic hopes in a battleground state that’s growing increasingly red.

Demings, a former Orlando police chief, rose to national prominence as a House impeachment manager and as a possible running mate for Joe Biden last year. State and national Democrats have urged her to challenge either DeSantis or Rubio, but she was relatively non-committal until she was asked Thursday about her potential candidacy.

"I've received so many calls and texts and emails, and have been stopped when I'm out and about by people who are asking me that very same question. Matter of fact, they think I should run for statewide office and maybe challenge the governor, or challenge Sen. Rubio next year,” she told POLITICO Thursday. “I'm seriously considering a statewide run. And we'll see what happens."

-snip-

As a former top police officer and a Black woman, Demings occupies a unique space in the nation’s political dialogue over race and policing, an issue that was brought into sharp focus Tuesday when Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) interrupted her as she criticized Republicans for pretending to support law enforcement when they tried to amend a hate crimes bill to prevent police departments from being defunded.

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https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/23/demings-challenging-desantis-rubio-484386

[blm]

1. Fingers crossed.

She’s a real leader.

[Hortensis]

17. Agree. Fingers crossed.

[JohnSJ]

2. My heart says challenge desantis, but logically I think Rubio would be better for us

[jaxexpat]

12. DeSantis leaves a stinking trail in his wake. Shouldn't be hard for someone to catch up and pass him

Rubio is a guy in a glass house. He's the most harmful of the two. Bringing that hypocrite, show pony down will be very sweet.

When voters have access and the votes are counted accurately there's good news

[JohnSJ]

13. I hope she runs

[gab13by13]

3. She would beat either one, in a fair election.

[dlk]

9. Republicans have been working overtime, especially since last November,

To ensure fair elections are a thing of the past. Demings would be fantastic, if there was a way to overcome this hurdle.

[gab13by13]

16. I'm sorry,

but I don't trust the ES&S machines.

[dlk]

23. It would be better if all of the machines provided paper receipts and could be audited

Otherwise, there's too much room for mischief. This is one area where a uniform, national system is needed. The foundation of our country depends on free, fair and accurate elections.

[sop]

4. Rubio is merely a fool, a reliable GOP rubber stamp. DeSantis is dangerous, truly evil incarnate.

She has a good chance to unseat either one.

[RegularJam]

5. Florida Republicans seem to be focusing a lot of their attacks on....

Fried and Demings. They are going after Fried hard.

[msfiddlestix]

6. Really? Love to see that happen but...

I don't see how she could possibly win the Governor's seat even in a "fair" election. Until we see Democratic U.S. Senators from Florida, (at least One) and majority vote for Democratic Presidents, I don't believe she has a snowball's chance in hell to win.

But I'd be happily wrong.

[Vdizzle]

8. Maybe a snowball's chance in Florida.... same difference.

[Towlie]

7. Challenging Rubio would be better for the nation; challenging DeSantis would be better for Florida.

 
?

If replacing Senator Rubio is critical for maintaining a Senate majority then I guess I'd hope for that, but DeSantis is manifestly evil and needs to be removed for the benefit of Florida. However, that could backfire if he were to then win a more powerful position in the federal government.

[SunSeeker]

10. She could beat Rubio.

[jcgoldie]

11. YES!

Take down Rubio please this I've been hoping for!

[Jon King]

14. As a Florida resident, please run....

A cesspool of political stupid down here.

[BobTheSubgenius]

15. Something has to be done to break the back of the GOP in Florida.

Either of these would be a great start!

[MoonlitKnight]

18. I think she should run against Rubio

Fried can challenge DeSatan.

[mcar]

19. Demings for Senate, Nikki Fried for Governor

[CaptainTruth]

22. +1

[Escurumbele]

20. Let us not forget that DeSantis may have cheated to win the governorship, his numbers were not

right, and he will do it again.

This is a stiff climb.

[CaptainTruth]

21. Remember, Nikki Fried is the only statewide elected Dem in FL.

That means she got the votes of independents, which is critical to winning in FL. She's been attacking DeathSentence & not letting up, like she has her sights on something more than Agricultural Commissioner (Governor?), & Kamala was here in FL meeting with her a few weeks ago.

I really like Val but "Demings, a former Orlando police chief, rose to national prominence as a House impeachment manager." The FL GOP will beat hard on the "House impeachment manager" & it will hurt her chances. Nikki doesn't have that baggage.

We need to make sure we run candidates that can WIN, not just the ones we prefer most.

[blm]

24. Demings may prefer the Senate seat. It's smart

to put her name in the mix for both positions. Fried has certainly been great.

[Qutzupalotl]

25. My sense is that FL residents would back

her as a senator but not as a governor. I base that on the supposition that there is a large contingent of racists who may accept a black senator but due to a governor's role and place in their daily lives would not accept a black governor, despite her outstanding qualifications and competence. I say this sadly.