Val Demings in 2022 FL Senate race
On Crime:
Police work should be about building communities
Asked whether she was a reformer during her time as chief, Demings responded, "Some of my predecessors certainly thought so. They told me that the community-oriented policing programs we were doing had 'nothing to do with police work.'
I disagreed. Building fair, safe, strong communities is exactly what police work can and should be."
Source: Politico.com e-zine on 2022 Florida Senate race
Jun 14, 2016
On Crime:
Support police but we also have to deal with social ills
I believe sometimes there are moments before us when we just have to do what we know is right. You know, with politics aside, it may not be the most popular decision. It may not be the best decision for our, quote, "party." But we just do what's right.
Over 50 years ago, President Johnson looked at crime and policing in America. They concluded that we need to hire the brightest and the best policemen.
We need to make sure they have the proper training and equipment. But we also need to look at education. We need to look at substandard housing.
We need to look at substandard wages. We have got to deal with the social ills that cause decay in communities in the first place.
Source: National Public Radio on 2022 Florida Senate race
Sep 22, 2020
On Education:
We need to focus more on our children graduating high school
She focused on the significance of a high school education. "If we know that a child drops out of school every 26 seconds, and we look at our prisoners across America, and we know the overwhelming majority of the people there are
Black and brown but did not graduate high school. Could that be a clue that we need to focus more on our children graduating high school?" she said.
Source: Spectrum News Bay News-9 on 2022 Florida Senate race
Sep 22, 2020
On Government Reform:
Members of extremist groups shouldn't be in police, military
Let's start with the [January 6th] attack on the Capitol, because of the disbelief that there was a break-in into the U.S. Capitol. We need to make sure that we know everybody that was involved, whether that is inciting the riot, participating in it, or
funding it. Everybody who had some role in it on that day needs to be held accountable. We are determined to get to the bottom of it, so what happened, which was unbelievable that it happened, will never happen again.
I remember at the police department we had a policy that said you could not be a member of nor associate with extremist groups. If you were found out it was grounds for immediate termination. I think it is very important for those who protect us,
whether that's the military, whether that's law enforcement, whether that's elected officials, I think that there should be major steps taken to hold them accountable and get them removed from the powerful, influential position that they may hold.
Source: Washington Post on 2022 Florida Senate race
Feb 2, 2021
On Gun Control:
Biden's measured, evidence-based orders will save lives
[On Second Amendment]: "I am sick and tired of watching our children, parents, neighbors, police officers, and friends gunned down in needless acts of violence. President Biden's orders are measured, evidence-based, and carefully targeted. They will
crack down on gun trafficking, ghost guns, and gun modifications that make mass shootings more deadly. They will help local law enforcement remove guns from volatile situations before violence can erupt. Simply put, they will save lives," Demings said.
Source: Florida Daily on 2022 Florida Senate race
Jun 14, 2016
On Jobs:
Look at hiring standards, police should reflect diversity
[On police hiring]: "We, as lawmakers and as a nation, have an obligation to look at hiring standards, to demand that police departments reflect the diversity of the communities they
serve and that as a nation we must look at developing some national training standards," she said, regardless of how large or small the law enforcement agency is.
Source: Spectrum News Bay News-9 on 2022 Florida Senate race
Sep 22, 2020
On Principles & Values:
Would be first Black woman elected as FL Governor or Senator
Democrats are happy that Demings' name is growing so that even if she is passed over by Biden [for Vice President], she will be well positioned to take on Republican Florida Senator Marco Rubio in 2022. Rubio is a close ally of Trump.
Demings is also mentioned as a possible gubernatorial candidate in Florida in 2022 as well, although Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried seems well positioned to take on Governor Ron Desantis, a Trump acolyte, in 2022.
Florida has never elected a Black woman as Governor or U.S. Senator. Jennifer Carroll, a Black, Clay county conservative Republican, served as
Lt. Governor before she was forced to step down after she was caught up in a scandal over local gaming.
Source: WMBT 90.1 on 2022 Florida Senate race
Jun 10, 2020
On Principles & Values:
Seeing VP Harris sworn in demonstrated American promise
Demings knows something about making history. She had the opportunity to witness it when Vice President Kamala Harris was inaugurated. "You know we talk a lot about America being the greatest country in the world and with the best democracy.
We talk a lot about America being the land of opportunity and seeing her sworn in really demonstrated that America can live up to its promise," she said.
Source: ClickOrlando.com e-zine on 2022 Florida Senate race
Jun 14, 2016
On Principles & Values:
Being unified nation doesn't mean giving up beliefs
Do we want to be the America that the founders dreamed of, the place where every person can live the American dream, where we respect our neighbors and those who are different from us, where diversity is really our greatest strength, that beacon of
hope around the world? Or do we want an America where people who believe in ridiculous theories, who are racist, who think that discrimination is okay, in the government? I'm going to fight that kind of America every step of the way.
When we think about unity and unifying our nation, I see that as coming together, respecting each other's spaces and places, beliefs, values, working together in a respectful and cordial way. But it does not mean giving up your principles, your values,
your beliefs, and what you stand for. The United States of America, we should be a unified nation. What we bring are different talents and backgrounds and experiences to the table, and working as one nation, building consensus.
Source: Washington Post on 2022 Florida Senate race
Feb 2, 2021
On Immigration:
Supports Kate's Law: harsher sentences on deported migrants
Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.) in a new campaign ad is distancing herself from some rhetoric in the Democratic Party on major issues, announcing she does not support "defunding" the police or releasing violent criminals.Demings, who is running for
Florida's Senate seat against Republican incumbent Marco Rubio, touted her experience as a former police officer in the campaign ad before she separates herself from Democrats.
"I learned as a police officer you stand up for what's right, no matter
what--that's how you put the bad guys away and keep Florida safe," she said. "In Congress, I did the same. I stood up to those in my party who wanted to defund the police. I was one of a few Democrats who voted to make sure violent criminals go to jail
and stay there."
The ad also references Kate's Law, a bill introduced in the House in 2017 that seeks to impose harsher sentences on migrants who are deported and reenter the U.S. and migrants with convictions.
Source: The Hill AdWatch on 2022 Florida Senate race
Oct 11, 2022
Page last updated: Feb 14, 2023