TAMPA, Fla. -- Rep. Val Demings kicked off her statewide "Running to Win" bus tour in Ybor City Wednesday evening.
What You Need To Know
- Rep. Val Demings won Tuesday's Democratic primary and will take on incumbent Marco Rubio in this fall's race for U.S. Senate
- Rep. Val Demings won Tuesday's Democratic primary and will take on incumbent Marco Rubio in this fall's race for U.S. Senate
- Demings said she plans to work to appeal to both Republicans and Democrats
"Hello, Democrats!" Demings shouted as she exited the bus to cheers from supporters.
Demings said she planned to visit counties that lean Republican as well as Democratic to speak with voters in her bid to unseat incumbent Sen. Marco Rubio. The former Orlando Police chief is coming off a primary victory, but a win in November will mean reaching out to people from both parties. She said that's something she became accustomed to during her time on the force.
"We're talking to all voters about inflation, about the cost of goods and services, about health care, about infrastructure," Demings said.
The congresswoman also opened a coordinated campaign office that she'll share with Rep. Kathy Castor. Demings called Tampa Bay an important factor in the Senate race, highlighting its position on the I-4 corridor.
"But I have been in north Florida, I've been in south Florida, I've traveled from the panhandle down to the Keys because I want to earn the respect and the votes of all people," Demings said.
Demings repeated during the event that Florida voters have a clear choice. She has a little more than two months to convince them that she's it.