Orlando Democrat Val Demings had said she was seriously considering it, now she's officially announcing that she is a candidate for the U.S. Senate. In a video posted on YouTube Wednesday the Congresswoman talked about growing up in Jacksonville, then serving 27 years in the Orlando Police Department, eventually becoming chief.
"And after all that I still wasn't tired, so I ran for Congress and got back to work," Demings said in the video. "I've never tired of representing Florida, not for one single moment."
Demings goes on to say, "When you grow up in the South poor, black and female, you have to have faith in progress and opportunity."
Demings will be seeking the Democratic Party nomination for an opportunity to unseat Republican incumbent Marco Rubio. Rubio says he looks forward to the race which he says gives Florida voters a clear choice.
"In the weeks ahead the voters of Florida are going to be reminded of my record of significant and common sense achievements," Rubio said in a video response. "And they're also going to learn more about how ineffective and far left and extremist the real Val Demings is when she's in Washington."
Rubio is seeking his third 6 year term in the U.S. Senate.
Image courtesy Getty