Attorney Vennia Francois will get a shot at U.S. Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., in November.
Earlier this year, Francois, a former congressional aide, left the Republican primary race against U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., to challenge Demings.
That gamble paid off on Tuesday as, with 98 percent of the vote in, Francois pulled 65 percent of the vote. Willie Montague, who runs a Christian nonprofit, took 35 percent of the primary vote.
First elected to Congress in 2016 after more than a quarter-century service in law enforcement, including rising to serve as chief of the Orlando Police Department, Demings will be a heavy favorite in November in this Central Florida district which is considered secure for the Democrats.
Demings was in the national spotlight in recent months when former Vice President Joe Biden considered adding her to the Democratic ticket this year. Biden opted for U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., to be his running mate.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
