Florida Senate race: Rep. Val Demings, former Orlando police chief, officially kicks off run against Rubio

Rep. Val Demings launched her 2022 U.S. Senate campaign against Sen. Marco Rubio on Wednesday accusing the incumbent Republican of failing to show up for Florida while promising she'd "never tire" of doing the right thing on behalf of the Sunshine State.

In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel, Demings acknowledged she's in for a "tough fight" against the two-term senator and former presidential candidate, but called out Rubio for voting against coronavirus relief aid this year, which included another round of stimulus checks. She said she'd stand up against laws that suppress voting and discriminate against transgender youth and would vote to eliminate the Senate filibuster to protect "basic rights." "We are dealing with some critical issues," Demings told the paper. "And we need bold, courageous leaders to deal with those issues. And the bottom line is, too many times Marco Rubio did not show up. And when he did, he did not have enough courage to fight for Florida."