Headline Surfer photo illustration / US Congresswoman Val Demings is the endorsed candidate for the Florida US Senate seat in Tuesday's general election. She was first elected to Congress in 2016 after a career in law enforcement spanning three decades, rising through the ranks of the Orlando Police Department to the chief of police in 2007, and serving as top cop for five years.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Congresswoman Val Demings, Democrat and former Orlando police chief, is Headline Surfer's endorsed candidate for Florida US senator over Republican incumbent Marco Rubio in Tuesday's elections.
A full story is in the works and will be published overnight.
Val Demings was elected to the U.S. House in 2016, representing Florida's 10th Congressional District. Demings served on the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Before her time in elected office, Demings worked in law enforcement for nearly three decades. From 2007 to 2012, Demings was the chief of police in Orlando, Florida.
Demings said she is "running for U.S. Senate to fight for every Floridian to have that same opportunity to live the American Dream."
Marco Rubio was first elected to the Senate in 2010 to replace retiring incumbent Mel Martinez (R). In the general election, Rubio defeated Kendrick B. Meek (D) and Gov. Charlie Crist (I) with 49% of the vote. Rubio was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2000 to 2008, serving as majority leader from 2003 to 2006 and House speaker from 2006 to 2008.
Rubio has emphasized his Senate career; according to his campaign website, "As a U.S. Senator, Marco has advanced commonsense, conservative ideas that address the issues Americans face."