TAMPA, Fla. — Millions of Democrats in Florida gave U.S. Rep. Val Demings an early vote of confidence Tuesday as the party’s national leaders push for her to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio this fall.
Demings, 65, the former Orlando police chief who’s served three terms in Congress, dominated the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, besting her closest opponent with about 85% of the vote by 8 p.m. She’s running to become the first Black U.S. senator from Florida. The Associated Press called the race at 8:01 p.m.
“We did it, Florida! We won the primary, now it’s time for us to #RetireRubio,” Demings tweeted Tuesday evening.
