The campaign for a Senate seat is entering its final weeks between Democratic Representative Val Demings and Republican Senator Marco Rubio in conservative-leaning Florida.
Demings is looking to unseat Rubio as Senator. And in this final stretch, her campaign is in a stronger position than many expected in the red state.
Demings is a former Orlando police chief. Rubio is seeking his third six-year term in the Senate and ran unsuccessfully for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.
But recent polls show Demings pulling close to Rubio ahead of the quickly approaching Nov. 8 midterm election.
The state is a key election battleground state. In 2021, Democrats were registered to make up 25.6 percent, and Republicans make up 35.9 percent. Independents, and other parties, make up 28.5 percent.
Florida’s Republican Governor, Ron DeSantis, is currently maintaining a wide lead over Democratic challenger Charlie Crist.
While DeSantis is expected to easily fend off Crist’s challenge, some political observers have said that Rubio faces a closer race with Demings.
President Joe Biden plans to make his first trip of this election cycle to Florida tomorrow, where much of his attention is expected to be focused on DeSantis, a potential rival for the White House in 2024.
However, Demings will not be joining Biden on stage, saying this is due to her commitment to Congress. But some embattled Democrats have expressed concern that joining Biden on stage could hurt their campaigns.
Control of Congress is at stake in this year’s midterm elections. Democrats are holding slim majorities in both the House of Representatives and Senate.
While Republicans are favored to win a majority in the House, competitive races in states including Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona have increased the chances for the Democrats to successfully defend its Senate majority.
Demings is hoping to add Florida to that list.
Experts say they see both campaigns running hard, and that anything is possible in this election.
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