In race with Rubio, Demings plays up ‘Chief’ background and pushes for police funding

As U.S. Rep. Val Demings introduces herself to voters across the state of Florida, she’s making the conscious choice to use her old title rather than her current one.

In campaign materials and at events, the third-term Democrat bills herself as “Chief Demings,” an intentional decision to highlight her status as Orlando’s first female police chief above her current role as the city’s congressional representative.

Demings’ emphasis on her 27-year law enforcement career comes at a time when she’s vying with incumbent Republican Marco Rubio for the mantle of the law and order candidate in their race for Rubio’s Senate seat in the November election. She’s also been leading a push within the Democratic caucus to increase funding for police departments through federal grants.