There are five new Democrats representing Florida in the U.S. House and one of them is starting to garner more attention than the others.
With her background in law enforcement, including more than 25 years service with the Orlando Police Department (OPD), U.S. Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., is increasingly becoming a favorite of Democrats at the national level. From 2007 through 2011, when she retired, Demings served as chief of the OPD.
Demings offered U.S. Rep. Dan Webster, R-Fla., a surprisingly close race in 2012. After the latest round of congressional redistricting, the district became far more palatable for Democrats. Webster packed his bags to run for an open seat up north while, despite some respectable opposition in the primary, Demings ran over her rivals to win his old seat.
With Democrats looking to push back against President Donald Trump’s plans on immigration, Demings unveiled a proposal last week giving the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which she sits on, authority over the wall on the border with Mexico, including costs and contracts.
“Serious questions have been raised by both Republicans and Democrats about the effectiveness of the wall in deterring or disrupting illegal border crossings,” Demings insisted. “The truth of the matter is that no one can tell us exactly how much it will cost taxpayers because we haven’t seen reliable cost estimates, which is why it is imperative that it be included in our Oversight Plan.
“The order and the president’s recent proclamations have sent our foreign relations with Mexico, one of our largest trading partners, into a tailspin,” Demings added. “Demanding that Mexico pay for a wall—when it appears ever more likely that the American taxpayer or consumer will pay—appears to be counterproductive and may spark a trade war that will only hurt American businesses and consumers.”
It’s a high profile bill for a backbencher freshman in the minority party. But there are other signs that Democrats are starting to put a few chips on Demings.
At the end of last month, Demings had a ceremonial swearing in ceremony in Orlando with some high profile Democrats in attendance. U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., swore Demings in and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer attended the event.
“It was important for me to be here in Orlando, to take the oath in front of the people who have been on this journey with me since the very beginning,” Demings said before throwing a jab at Trump. “We know we are facing some difficult times in this nation, but I could not be more honored to represent Central Florida, and will always fight for the best interests of the people I serve.”
