This week, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., took aim at each other as they get ready for this fall’s U.S. Senate race.
Fresh from unveiling the support of the Florida Police Chiefs Association (FPCA), Rubio insisted Demings, who served in law enforcement for 27 years, has let down the police during her time in Congress.
“When Congresswoman Val Demings went to Washington, she abandoned Florida’s men and women in blue,” Rubio insisted. “I will always support our law enforcement and continually work to make sure that they have everything they need to keep our communities safe.”
Demings accused Rubio of making “desperate attacks on my law enforcement career” and contrasted her experience with his.
“I entered the police academy because I loved my community and wanted to protect it from harm. After graduating at the top of my class, I woke up and put on my uniform every day, ready to risk my life because I took an oath to protect and serve the people of Florida,” Demings insisted. “While I was working the midnight shift, Marco Rubio was plotting his trajectory as a career politician. I’ll put my record up against his any day.
“Back in 1983, I was one of only three women in my police academy class. But after years of hard work and dedication, I rose to the top of the department and became the first woman to serve as Orlando’s Chief of Police,” she added. “My story doesn’t stop there. When I was appointed Chief of Police, Orlando was in crisis. The murder rate was at an all-time high, but I brought the department together and built relationships within the community. Standing with the brave men and women of the Orlando Police Department, we reduced violent crime by 40 percent.
“To protect the city of Orlando, it took long, sleepless nights. And if I’m elected to the Senate, I’m ready to spend long nights protecting our right to vote, reproductive rights, access to health care and so much more,” Demings continued.
Demings is the heavy favorite to win the Democratic primary in August over a crowd of candidates including former congressional candidates Allen Ellison and Al Fox, former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., and Miami City Commissioner Ken Russell. Rubio has not drawn any serious opposition in the Republican primary.
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