Facebook. The remarks by Democratic congresswoman Val Demings on Saturday came after Joe Biden suggested there was “no need” to provide Mr Trump with intelligence briefings and that they should be stopped. "This is a pattern that did not start under Val Demings' leadership but it sure did not end," Cantone said, "and she's now in a better position of authority and she refuses to step in and change things locally.". 956 talking about this. "We need you to help solve 400 years of oppression and discrimination in this country. Demings said "the officer performed the technique within department guidelines" but also said that her department had "begun the process of reviewing the use of force policy and will make appropriate modifications." "[11], In 2009, she had her firearm, a Sig Sauer P226R, stolen from her department vehicle while parked at her home; she was issued a written censure. Demings is an African American woman from Central Florida, a representative of a key Democratic Party constituency from a vital part of a vital … ", 'I want to see myself:' Black women mount public and private campaign for Biden to pick a Black woman running mate, The Top 10 women Joe Biden might pick as vice president, Trying to predict Biden's veep? But as the nation once again grapples with the impact that law enforcement has on Black Americans after multiple killings of Black people at the hands of police, Demings' lengthy law enforcement career is getting renewed scrutiny, with some top Democrats arguing it positions the Black congresswoman perfectly for this moment of national reckoning, while others say it means she is deeply intertwined with the same law enforcement establishment at the center of skepticism and scrutiny. [23] She decided to run for Mayor of Orange County, Florida, against Teresa Jacobs, instead. Demings, as chief, often defended these cases, at one point. Democratic 2020 US House of Representatives 2018 US House of Representatives Congressional District 10 Florida. Val Demings Steps Into the Political Spotlight as Impeachment Manager. That kind of reflection will never be enough for some of Demings' most fervent critics in Orlando, who have responded to Biden's consideration of Demings with contempt, promising that the former vice president would be making a mistake by picking the congresswoman or anyone tied to law enforcement. [30], On May 21, 2020, Demings confirmed she was on "the shortlist" to be Joe Biden's vice presidential nominee for the 2020 presidential election. We can respect one another, protect civil rights, create opportunity and prosperity. Twitter . "[49], On December 18, 2019, Demings voted for both articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. Probably not. Congresswoman Valdez B. Demings, the youngest of seven children, was born in Jacksonville, Florida to … Demings also hasn't been wary in saying she wants the job and would say yes if Biden asked her to fill the role. Share. Email. Val Demings. "[44], Demings has an "F" rating from the NRA. But Demings also admitted that she had not accomplished everything she had hoped to during her three years as chief from 2007 to 2011, and when asked whether a former police officer is the best person to join a presidential ticket at this time, she emphasized the two years she spent as a social worker with Florida's Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. Jerry Demings served as chief of police in Orlando until 2002, before his wife filled the role, and he served as the Orange County sheriff during the same period that his wife was chief of the Orlando Police Department. Demings was the Democratic nominee to represent Florida's 10th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives in both 2012 and 2016. Email. Never lose faith. [5][7] The two met while on patrol in the OPD; they married in 1988 and have three children. Val Demings. The Gun Violence Restraining Order Act is a major step to doing just that. Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.) appeared more optimistic on Wednesday about the possibility of President Donald Trump being removed from office, saying she … Michelle Lujan Grisham and former national security adviser Susan Rice. Demings has been directly engaged with all the vice presidential speculation. She attended segregated schools in the 1960s, graduating from Wolfson High School in the 1970s. Florida Democratic Rep. Val Demings’ credentials have landed her on the list of possible Joe Biden VP picks, but her law enforcement background has raised questions about her place on the shortlist, NPR reported. Demings, who retired as Orlando Police Chief after spending 26 years on the force, expressed particular resentment to Greene’s promotion of social … She attended Florida State University, graduating with a degree in criminology in 1979. The Biden running mate chatter began soon afterward, and her stock has risen significantly in recent weeks as she brings forth the experience of being both a former law enforcement officer and a Black woman raising Black sons in America. [5], Demings became interested in a career in law enforcement after serving in the "school patrol" at Dupont Junior High School. Florida Rep. Val Demings, a Democrat and former local law enforcement executive, called it a “political and moral mistake” for Republicans not … While she will not be returning as one of the U.S. House representatives serving as managers of the impeachment of former President Donald Trump as she was last year, U.S. Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., announced … Did I create more policies to run a more efficient police department? Overview … I still believe that a better, saner politics and country is possible. Born in 1957, she was the youngest of seven to a father who worked as a janitor and a mother who was a housekeeper -- all descendants of slaves. In the same op-ed, she cast doubt on video evidence that conflicts with officers' statements in excessive force cases, writing, "a few seconds (even of video) rarely capture the entire set of circumstances. Last updated on Jan 18, 2020. [5], United States Secretary of Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations, Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Subcommittee on Defense Intelligence and Warfighter Support, Subcommittee on Intelligence Modernization and Readiness, impeachment against President Donald Trump, Second impeachment of President Donald Trump, 2021 United States Electoral College vote count, 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, List of African-American United States Representatives, Women in the United States House of Representatives, "Florida U.S. House 10th District Results: Val Demings Wins", "Schiff, Nadler lead group of House managers to prosecute Trump in Senate impeachment trial", "Val Demings Is on Biden's V.P. That’s why he should pick Florida Rep. Val Demings as his running mate: She can reinforce Biden’s strengths while helping him better represent the party as a whole. Place Of Birth: Jacksonville; Political Party: Democratic Party; Birthdate: March 11, 1957 (63 … [6][7], In 1983, Demings applied for a job with the Orlando Police Department (OPD); her first assignment was on patrol on Orlando's west side. That includes this moment, as presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden considers tapping her as his running mate. ", "Val Demings takes over as Orlando's police chief Monday", "Married cops to head next-door agencies – US news – Life | NBC News", "Val Demings' retirement opinion: Orlando Police Chief Val Demings is retiring", "Val Demings' Orlando police career could hurt — or help — her chances to become Joe Biden's running mate", "Orlando Police Complaints in the Spotlight as African-American Ex-Chief Runs for Congress", "Demings censured for not properly securing gun", "Orlando Policeman Breaks 84-Year-Old's Neck", "Orlando police officer found liable in excessive force trial", "Confrontation with Orlando cop leaves 84-year-old vet with broken neck, son says", "Cop Who Broke Elderly Man's Neck Cleared", "OPD Chief Val Demings: Takedown move that broke elderly man's neck 'within department guidelines, "Val Demings retiring, Deputy Chief Paul Rooney is new Orlando police chief", "Orlando Police Chief Val Demings retiring: Orlando Police Chief Val Demings is retiring", "Rep. Daniel Webster Challenged By Val Demings, Ex-Chief of Police", "Dan Webster beats Val Demings, wins second term", "Demings still undecided on next political move", "Val Demings takes on Teresa Jacobs for Orange County Mayor", "Val Demings drops out of Orange County mayoral race", "Val Demings wins Democratic primary for US House District 10: Former Orlando police chief to face off against Thuy Lowe in November", "Political newcomer Murphy pulls stunner, unseats Mica; Demings defeats Lowe", "House elections 2018: Uncontested races - Washington Post", "Demings Says She's on Biden's Shortlist", "Former cop Demings faces progressive pushback in veepstakes", "Criminal Justice Backgrounds of Kamala Harris, Val Demings Come Into Question As Joe Biden Shortlists Them For VP", "Who Are Contenders for Biden's Cabinet? The district covers most of the western half of Orlando and includes much of the area around Orlando's resort parks. "As I look at what has happened over the last few weeks and think back to my time, certainly I think gosh, in my three and a half years as chief of police, I would never say I did enough," Demings said. [34], Demings was sworn in as the representative for Florida's 10th congressional district on January 3, 2017. Als Afroamerikanerin wurde sie als mögliche Vizepräsidentin unter Joe Biden gehandelt. Congresswoman Val Demings (D-FL) discusses the Supreme Court vacancy, police reform, COVID and Florida’s pivotal role in the presidential race. And if we look at what is going on in our country right now, I grew up the daughter of a maid and a janitor in the South. Others include Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, New Mexico Gov. Demings won the Democratic Party nomination on August 30[27] and won the general election in November with 65% of the vote. She said she would accept the role if offered. The Orlando Congresswoman is a former cop who retired as Orlando Police Chief after 26 years on the force. "Her accomplishments are to be awarded, however, I don't just look at the cover of the book or the title, I turn the pages. I chose to be part of the solution. Januar 2017 vertritt sie den Bundesstaat Florida im US-Repräsentantenhaus. Demings retired from the police force in 2011 before unsuccessfully running for Congress in 2012 and Orange County mayor in 2014. Political party: Democratic: Spouse(s) Jerry Demings: Children: three: Alma mater: Florida State University: Occupation: Police officer: Website: House website: Valdez Venita "Val" Demings (née Butler; March 12, 1957) is an American police officer and politician. As Rep. Val Demings has risen through the political ranks, one line from her resume has stood out: her three-year tenure as the chief of the Orlando Police Department. Demings narrowly lost, taking 48 percent of the vote to Webster's 51 percent. Linkedin. [52], Citing the unusually contested 2021 United States Electoral College vote count and the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, Deming's joined U.S. Representative Cori Bush of Missouri in sponsoring House Resolution 25 on January 11, 2021, seeking to expel the 138 Republican U.S. But she said that while police shootings have always been a reality, the last month of protests -- sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and further ignited by killings at the hands of officers in places like Atlanta and Louisville, Kentucky -- have forced her to consider her tenure in a different way. [2] In early August 2020, Demings was said to be one of the top contenders for Vice President in the Biden Administration, along with Kamala Harris and Susan Rice. It also includes many of Orlando's western suburbs, such as Apopka and Winter Garden. Valdez Venita Demings (née Butler; born March 12, 1957) is an American politician and former police officer serving as the U.S. Representative for Florida's 10th congressional district since 2017. But Demings pushed back against her critics by saying these last few weeks of strife have caused her to "recommit my life to being a part of the solution and not the problem" when it comes to issues of police brutality against Black Americans. Of the Act, Demings said, "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. [31] But some critics, including Black Lives Matter activists, attacked her record as Orlando police chief. But Demings, in an interview with CNN, declined to engage in any conversations about becoming Biden's running mate. It also includes many of Orlando's western suburbs, such as Apopka and Winter Garden. [24] She dropped out of the mayoral race on May 20, 2014.[25]. U.S. Representative Val Demings. The would-be congresswoman attended segregated schools for much of her childhood, before attending and graduating from Florida State University with a degree in criminology. Twitter. "If I received a call from Joe Biden, I would absolutely accept the job and accept the challenge," Demings said during an appearance on "The Late Late Show" on CBS earlier this month. We know the pandemic. Seit dem 3. (Photo by Greg Nash-Pool/Getty Images). It shifts the pain, the hurt, and the guilt to school staff who will find themselves out skilled and outgunned in active shooter situations. I will continue to be part of the solution regardless of what happens with Joe Biden's campaign. And she had a pointed message for those critics: "You can sit on the sidelines and do nothing and not have to worry about anybody not supporting you or criticizing your work, because you're not doing a damn thing.". We did not expect to still be dealing with COVID-19, but because of the lack of leadership coming from the White House, here we are. [8][9] From 2007 to 2011, Demings oversaw a 40% decrease in violent crime. Before the Senate acquitted former President Donald Trump , Congresswoman Val Demings and former impeachment manager passed the torch to her successors about the importance of … I worked as a social worker when nobody was looking. ORLANDO, Fla. – As Orlando’s first Black female police chief, U.S. Rep. Val Demings knows something about making history. Listen to the interviews with Congresswoman Val Demings and ex-Rep. Denver Riggleman on Apple Podcast, Spotify or wherever else you get your podcasts, and subscribe! [41], Demings received a 70% rating from the American Civil Liberties Union for the 115th Congress. List. ", "LEGISLATIVE SCORECARD Scorecard forVal Butler Demings", "A year after Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting, we're going backward on guns", "Val Demings pushes bill to seek gun restraining orders on people deemed dangerous", "Shooting Survivors, Victims' Families Tell Trump Emotional Stories", "Gun lobby's money and power still holds sway over Congress", "What have Florida's politicians done to change gun laws? Progressive activists like Mike Cantone, who once supported one of the congresswoman's bids, said Demings' tenure did not frustrate him as much as that she has stood by the city's police establishment since leaving her post, despite the fact that use of force has climbed in the city since her tenure. Moreover, she has also served as a police officer previously. In her 2018 reelection campaign, Demings was unopposed for a second term. [36], Demings received a 100% voting score from NARAL Pro-Choice America for 2017, 2018, and 2019. [47], Demings supports and has vowed to defend the Affordable Care Act. "[12] Demings responded with an op-ed in the Orlando Sentinel, arguing that "Looking for a negative story in a police department is like looking for a prayer at church" and added that "It won't take long to find one." Demings, when speaking about her time as the chief of police, often cites the same statistic: The violent crime rate in Orlando fell more than 40% during her tenure, according to FBI statistics. In 2015, Demings announced her candidacy for the 10th district seat after a court-ordered redistricting made the 10th significantly more Democratic ahead of the 2016 elections. [13], In 2010, an Orlando police officer flipped 84-year-old Daniel Daley over his shoulder after the man became belligerent, throwing him to the ground and breaking a vertebra in his neck. Florida politician. U.S. [32][33] However, Kamala Harris was officially announced as Biden's running mate on August 11, 2020. "[43] She supported the Gun Violence Restraining Order Act of 2017, which would have provided a lawful method of temporarily confiscating firearms from people deemed to be a threat to themselves or others. "The credit goes to the man or woman in the arena -- jump in," she said. KEVIN DERBY - 01.25.21. U.S. Rep. Val Demings Demings, 63, gained national prominence as an impeachment manager during Trump’s first impeachment. Share. Poe, during a notably contentious primary campaign, "So much of politics is about timing," Poe said. Rep. Val Demings’s 2019 Report Card Representative from Florida's 10 th District Democrat Serving Jan 3, 2017 – Jan 3, 2023 These year-end statistics cover Demings’s record during the 2019 legislative year (Jan 3, 2019-Dec 31, 2019) and compare her to other representatives serving at the end of that period. [21] She faced freshman Republican Daniel Webster in a district that had been made slightly more Republican than its predecessor in 2010. "[44] After the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018, Demings opposed arming teachers, saying such legislation was "ridiculous"[45] and "only shift the responsibility from lawmakers to others. Demings, in an interview with CNN, spoke highly of her nearly three decades with the Orlando Police Department, arguing that she became a police officer with hopes of changing an entity viewed skeptically by Black Americans from the inside. [48], In June 2019 Demings released a congressional report on insulin prices, criticizing manufacturers for raising prices well beyond manufacturing costs and said it was "inexcusable that American families are dying for the sake of corporate profit. Before coming to Congress in 2017, Demings was the first woman to lead Orlando's police force — and amid the national outcry over the death of George Floyd … Try the political quiz. Demings remains proud of her time as the top cop in Orlando. After two years as a social worker, Demings joined the Orlando Police Department in 1983, where she rose through the ranks and in 2007 became the first woman to lead the department. Menu Candidates > Val Demings > Ratings. Representatives who voted to object to the electoral college certification. Politics; Val Demings Staying on Intelligence, Homeland Security, Judiciary Committees. A higher or lower number … Biography . "I am on the shortlist and I'm honored to be on the shortlist," Demings said during an interview on SiriusXM's "The Dean Obeidallah Show" last month, adding, "If Vice President Biden asked me to serve along with him, I would be honored to do just that.". Demings is one of several women whose names are being floated. ", "Val Demings vows to defend Affordable Care Act at Sunday town hall", "Val Demings issues report on insulin: 'It is inexcusable, "WHIP COUNT: Here's which members of the House voted for and against impeaching Trump", "Pelosi taps Schiff, Nadler and 5 others as Trump impeachment managers", "Roll Call 17, Bill Number: H. Res. When U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., named House impeachment managers on Wednesday, she mostly turned to senior members of her caucus including a few committee chairs. [28][29] She is the third Democrat to win this Orlando-based district since its creation in 1973 (it was numbered as the 5th from 1973 to 1993, the 8th from 1993 to 2013, and has been the 10th since 2013). Val Demings serving as a panelist at the National Town Hall: 'Black Lives Matter' panel for the 45th Annual Legislative Black Caucus Foundation on September 17, 2015 in Washington, DC. Will Her Police Career Hurt or Help? “Val Demings is part of the establishment here in central Florida,” says Lawanna Gelzer, a community activist in Orlando. [20] He served as the Chief of the Orlando Police Department (OPD), the first African American to do so, from 1999 to 2002. WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 10: U.S. Rep. Val Demings (D-FL) questions witnesses at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on police brutality and racial profiling on June 10, 2020 in Washington, DC. [40] She has an F rating from the anti-abortion Susan B. Anthony List. "And I say that because I think that people are chosen, I believe, at certain times to address certain things. You Quiz Candidates Elections Issues Discuss. A federal jury ruled in Daley's favor and awarded him $880,000 in damages. Linkedin . Biden has committed to picking a female running mate, and there is mounting pressure from outside groups urging the former vice president to select a Black woman for the job. I think good leaders always look within and say there is always room to do more.". [39] She received a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood Action Fund for 2020. "I'm not sure I want the job as much as the job may want me," Demings said Monday. DEMINGS: Well, about a year ago, the Florida Democratic Party started working to encourage voters to vote by mail. In November 2020, Demings was named a candidate for United States Secretary of Homeland Security in the Biden Administration. Democratic 2020 US House of Representatives 2018 US House of Representatives Congressional District 10 Florida. [53][54][55][56], Her husband, Jerry Demings, is the former Orange County Sheriff and current mayor of Orange County, Florida. [5] Demings was appointed as Chief of the Orlando Police Department in 2007, becoming the first woman to lead the department. Val Demings’ path from Orlando police officer to Trump prosecutor — and what it means for her political future. Val Demings is a politician from the United States of America. She lost the general election in 2012 to Republican incumbent Daniel Webster but won in 2016 after the State Supreme Court mandated the creation of a new, majority-minority Democratic district in Orlando. She serves as the member of the United States House of Representatives from Florida's 10th congressional … Washington (CNN)As Rep. Val Demings has risen through the political ranks, one line from her resume has stood out: her three-year tenure as the chief of the Orlando Police Department. Congresswoman Valdez B. Demings, the youngest of seven children, was born in Jacksonville, Florida to … Demings, in a sign of how seriously she is taking Biden's vice presidential search, has fully rejected the idea that her record as a police chief somehow eliminates her from contention. [5], In 1996, Demings earned a master's degree in public administration at Webster University Orlando. Updated 1209 GMT (2009 HKT) June 25, 2020. By. Overview Policies Discuss Ratings Themes Ideology. And when I turn the pages and because I am in her district and because I know her, I don't like what I see," said Lawanna Gelzer, president of the National Action Network's Central Florida chapter. Menu Candidates > Val Demings > Overview. When pressed, she joked that Biden's search is like an "active investigation" that she often oversaw as police chief, one that she was not allowed to "confirm or deny" publicly. "I grew up poor in the South, female in the South, but decided to dedicate my life, based on some of the injustices and discriminations that I faced in my own life, dedicate my life to making my community better. "But now, because of the current atmosphere, it could work against her.". My parties; My ballot; My support map; My settings; Logout; United States Speaking English. She is a member of the New Democrat Coalition[35] and the Congressional Black Caucus. Valdez Venita „Val“ Demings (* 12. [1] On January 15, 2020, Speaker Nancy Pelosi selected Demings to serve as an impeachment manager in the Senate trial of President Donald Trump. [10], According to a 2015 article in The Atlantic, the Orlando Police Department "has a long record of excessive-force allegations, and a lack of transparency on the subject, dating back at least as far as Demings's time as chief. Facebook. I know what discrimination feels like, I know what racism feels like, because I have been subjected to it.". She is best known for serving the 10th Congressional District of Florida as a representative since the year 2017. ", She added: "Nobody, obviously, has been able to completely rid this earth of racism -- we have to fight that every day -- but if you look at the things I did, it is obvious that I brought my social worker heart and skill to the job of being a police chief.". "If given the opportunity, number one I believe the vice president's role is to advocate for the president's agenda, with the president's agenda being the people's agenda. From 2007 to 2011, she was Chief of the Orlando Police Department, the first woman to lead the department, capping a 27-year career with the department. Before the Florida primary in March, Demings appeared alongside former second lady Jill Biden in Orlando during a campaign stop, and since the pandemic hit she has participated in "Women for Biden" virtual fundraising events. A Democrat, he previously served as Sheriff of Orange County, Florida, from 2009 … Political party: Democratic: Spouse(s) Val Butler (m. 1988) Children: 3: Alma mater: Florida State University Everest College : Jerry L. Demings (born June 12, 1959) is an American politician and former law enforcement officer serving as Mayor of Orange County, Florida, in office since 2018. The firearm has not been recovered. Orlando Sentinel | Jan 17, 2020 at 7:12 PM . Instead, the Florida congresswoman has argued that her background makes her a better pick as the nation reckons with centuries of racism and police brutality. [50] She was selected as one of seven impeachment managers who presented the impeachment case against Trump during his trial before the United States Senate.