Scott Powers
Florida congressional candidate Val Demings has received the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Tony Cárdenas of California for her bid in Orlando-based Congressional District 10, her campaign announced Wednesday.
“The decision was easy – Val Demings ran in 2012 in a much tougher district, nearly upsetting a well-funded incumbent, showing that she is willing to fight for her community not only when it’s easy, but when it’s hard,” Cárdenas stated in a news release issued by Demings’ campaign.
Demings, of Orlando, is running in a west Orange County district that was redrawn last fall with almost a majority of voters being black or Hispanic, and a strong Democratic lean. The change was profound enough that Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Dan Webster of Winter Garden, the one who beat Demings in that 2012 campaign, switched to Congressional District 11 to the west.
However, she faces Democratic primary opposition in CD 10 from state Sen. Geraldine Thompson, former Florida Democratic Party chairman Bob Poe and Orlando attorney Fatima Rita Fahmy, all of Orlando. Nonetheless, Demings, Orlando police chief, is locking up many establishment Democratic Party endorsements.
“Her thirty-year record of public service proves that she will serve as a powerful, unifying voice for the people of Central Florida,” Cárdenas added.
