5 Things To Know About Rep. Val Demings, The Badass Running For Marc Rubio's Senate Seat

According to her bio Demings fundamental sense of right and wrong was guided by both her parents’ lessons and the police shows she watched as a child. Later, she served as the "school patrol" at Dupont Junior High School. This is where she first got a taste for law enforcement — and she stuck with it. 

Demings was the first in her family to graduate from college and was determined to graduate from the police academy as well. She ended up not only doing that, but also being voted class president by her peers. She even received the Board of Trustees’ Award for Overall Excellence. Those around her said she was smart, tenacious, and had the personality of a no-nonsense cop. 

In 2007, she rose through the ranks of the Orlando Police Department (OPD), becoming the city's first female Chief of Police. During her time at OPD she reduced violent crime by more than 40% due in part to a campaign she created. She also implemented a mentoring program. She spent 27 years with the department.  

 Demings was born March 12, 1957 in Jacksonville, Florida. Throughout her childhood in the 1960's, she attended segregated schools. But despite growing up through the pains of racism and the Civil Rights Movement, Demings would go on to further her education earning degrees from various institutions.  

Carrying out her interest and dream to serve in law enforcement, Demings earned her B.S. in Criminology from Florida State University in 1979. She then went on to receive a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from Webster University in 1996.  

She's also received honorary doctorate degrees from Bethune-Cookman University, Florida Technical College and City College Fort Lauderdale. 

Being from a traditionally red state, Demings has had to field many questions with regards to her stance on gun policy and gun control. She has repeatedly said she wants to keep firearms from people who are not "responsible law-abiding citizens." 

In 2017 she supported the Gun Violence Restraining Order Act. Demings said it was an important step to keeping people safe and free from fear.  

"We must do what we can to make sure law enforcement has the tools it needs to more effectively perform the ever more challenging job of keeping us a safe nation," she said at the time. 

She opposed allowing teachers to be armed with firearms after the tragic Stoneman Douglass High School shooting in Parkland, Fl. The National Rifle Association has openly disagreed with Demings position. 

Demings currently serves as Vice Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task. 

It comes as no surprise that a woman of Demings’ progressive governmental background would find herself married to another political figure. Her husband Jerry Demings is the mayor of Orange County in Orlando, Florida. The 61-year-old is the first African-American to hold the position in the city. 

The two first met while on patrol in the OPD and married in 1988.  Ironically enough, her husband served as the Chief of Orlando Police in 1999 and served up until 2002. He was also the first African-American in that position. Who knew that she would be right on track to serve the force right in her husband’s footsteps?

Demings emerged as a national figure when she became one of the first women and one of the first Black Americans to prosecute a presidential impeachment before the U.S. Senate. In December 2019 she voted for both of the articles of impeachment against former President Donald Trump. On January 15, 2020, she was formally named as an impeachment manager for the trial by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. 

Demings was there on the opening day of the trial where she gave speech detailing the articles. She said the trial was an important step to holding Trump accountable.  

“Only in America can a little black girl, the daughter of a maid and a janitor growing up in the south in the 60s have such an amazing opportunity” in Congress, she said that day.