As reported earlier this week, a slew of Florida Sheriffs endorsed Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R), calling him “simply the very best for Florida.”
On the same day that Senator Rubio endorsed Alina Garcia (R) for state Senate, Rubio drew enthusiastic support from Florida Sheriffs.
Senator Rubio held a press conference with the Sheriffs, with only 12 others did not lend their endorsement to the Florida Republican. In the press conference, 3 Sheriffs shared remarks as to why the group was endorsing Rubio for reelection, and verbal jabs were also directed at Florida Rep. Val Demings (R).
Sheriff Wayne Ivey from Brevard County introduced the Sheriffs, saying that they were “standing with Marco as he has always stood with us, our deputies, and our profession.”
Then, Ivey criticized Demings, saying that she “turned her back on her profession as she stood with the soft on crime crowd in Washington, D.C.”
Ivey further expressed that in doing this, Demings “put our citizens and our law enforcement officers as risk.”
“For someone who claims to have been a cop and to have worn the badge, what she did in Washington, D.C. to support criminals forever tarnished any badge she ever wore, and sadly, she did it to further her own political career.”
Before running for office, Demings served as the chief of the Orlando Police Department.
Sheriff Michelle Cook from Clay County also shared some thoughts, saying “that Senator Rubio recognizes that enforcing the law and serving the community are not mutually exclusive.”
‘The rhetoric coming from some of our leaders in Washington is fueling anti-cop sentiment, but Senator Rubio has consistently advocated for professional law enforcement and has worked with us to make our communities safer.”
The race between Rubio and Demings is expected to be one of the most expensive and closely watched races of the upcoming 2022 midterm elections.
