Scott Powers
Former Orlando Police Chief Val Demings became the first candidate to qualify for the ballot by petition in Orlando-based Congressional District 10, her campaign announced Friday.
The campaign used volunteers to collect 2,298 valid voter signatures to qualify, with the majority of the signatures coming from Orange County voters, though 40 Florida counties were represented.
Demings, a Democrat, is seeking to replace U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster, a Winter Springs Republican, who chose to run in Congressional District 11 since the districts were redrawn, making CD 10 strongly Democratic.
She faces state Sen. Geraldine Thompson, businessman Bob Poe, and Fatima Rita Fahmy in the Aug. 30 Democratic primary, if they all qualify. The Republicans have Thuy Lowe of Sorrento and Geoff LaGarde of Jacksonville seeking to be eligible.
“I’m so grateful for all of the people who helped us get to this point,” Demings stated in her campaign’s news release. “The support we have seen surrounding our campaign, from our dedicated volunteers to the community members we’ve met throughout Central Florida, has been overwhelming, and we couldn’t be more excited about the growing momentum as we push toward August 30th.”
