37 Facts About Val Demings

Valdez Venita Demings is an American politician and former police officer who served as US representative for from 2017 to 2023.

From 2007 to 2011, Demings served as the first female chief of the Orlando Police Department, closing a 27-year career in law enforcement.

Val Demings has been first lady of Orange County, Florida, since December 4,2018, when her husband Jerry Demings was sworn in as County Mayor.

Val Demings won the Democratic Party's nomination for US Representative from Florida's 10th congressional district in 2012.

On January 15,2020, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi selected Val Demings to serve as a House impeachment manager in the first Senate trial of President Donald Trump.

In early August 2020, Val Demings was said to be one of the top contenders to be Joe Biden's vice-presidential running mate in the 2020 United States presidential election, along with Kamala Harris and Susan Rice.

In July 2024, President Joe Biden nominated Val Demings to serve as a member of the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service.

Val Demings attended segregated schools in the 1960s and graduated from Wolfson High School in 1975.

Val Demings became interested in a career in law enforcement after serving in the "school patrol" at Dupont Junior High School.

Val Demings attended Florida State University, graduating with a degree in criminology in 1979.

In 1996, Val Demings earned a master's degree in public administration from Webster University Orlando.

In 1983, Val Demings applied for a job with the Orlando Police Department ; her first assignment was on patrol on Orlando's west side.

Val Demings was appointed chief of the Orlando Police Department in 2007, becoming the first woman to lead the department.

Val Demings retired from her position as chief of OPD effective June 1,2011, after serving with the OPD for 27 years.

Val Demings was the Democratic nominee for the United States House of Representatives in Florida's 10th congressional district in the 2012 elections.

Val Demings faced freshman Republican Daniel Webster in a district that had been made slightly more Republican than its predecessor in 2010.

Democrats attempted to recruit Val Demings to run against Webster again in 2014.

Val Demings decided to run for mayor of Orange County, Florida, against Teresa Jacobs, instead, but dropped out of the mayoral race on May 20,2014.

In 2015, Val 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.

Val Demings is the third Democrat to win this Orlando-based district since its creation in 1973.

On May 21,2020, Val Demings confirmed she was on "the shortlist" to be Joe Biden's vice presidential nominee for the 2020 presidential election.

Val Demings said she would accept the role if offered.

In November 2020, Val Demings was named a candidate for United States Secretary of Homeland Security in the Biden administration.

Val Demings is a member of the New Democrat Coalition and the Congressional Black Caucus.

In June 2021, Val Demings announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination in Florida's 2022 US Senate election.

In March 2022, PolitiFact reported that Val Demings falsely claimed that Rubio supported tax hikes.

Val Demings lost to Rubio in the November 8,2022, general election.

On July 25,2024, President Joe Biden nominated Val Demings to serve as a member of the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service.

Val Demings has an F rating from the anti-abortion Susan B Anthony List.

Val Demings supports eliminating the filibuster in the United States Senate.

Val Demings has an "F" rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund.

Val Demings has accused the NRA of "hijacking" conversations after mass shootings in the United States to make them about the Second Amendment.

On December 18,2019, Val Demings voted for both articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.

Val Demings was selected as one of seven House impeachment managers who presented the impeachment case against Trump during his trial before the United States Senate.

On January 13,2021, Val Demings voted for the single article of impeachment in the second impeachment of President Donald Trump.

Val Demings served as the chief of the Orlando Police Department, the first African American to do so, from 1999 to 2002.

Val Demings is a member of The Links and Delta Sigma Theta sorority.