While she will not be returning as one of the U.S. House representatives serving as managers of the impeachment of former President Donald Trump as she was last year, U.S. Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., announced last week that she will remain on several House committees.
Demings, now starting her third term on Capitol Hill, announced last week that she will stay on the committees she served on in her last term.
“I am excited to once again be joining the House Committees on Intelligence, Homeland Security, and the Judiciary. As we work to restore and unite America, it is more important than ever that we defend the Constitution, the rule of law, and the civil rights and personal safety of every person,” Demings announced.
Back in 2012, Demings offered U.S. Rep. Dan Webster, R-Fla., a surprisingly close race. After the latest round of congressional redistricting, the district, now including parts of Orange County, became far more palatable for Democrats. Webster packed his bags to run for an open seat up north while, despite some respectable opposition in the primary, Demings ran over her rivals to win his old seat. Demings did not face any opposition in the 2018 general election and easily kept her seat in November, taking 64 percent while Republican Vennia Francois pulled 36 percent.
In her brief congressional career, Demings has been given some high profile assignments, including taking aim at the Trump administration. on immigration and health-care and focusing on national security issues. When she started her service in Congress in January 2017, Demings had a ceremonial swearing-in ceremony in Orlando with some high profile Democrats in attendance. Then U.S. House Minority Leader and now Speaker Pelosi swore Demings in and then U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer attended the event.
Demings, who is married to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, claimed even more of the political spotlight in 2020 when she served as a House impeachment manager and garnered consideration to be Joe Biden’s running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
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