Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R) continues to receive support from the law enforcement community. Over the weekend, the Florida Police Benevolent Association (FPBA) endorsed Senator Rubio for the U.S. Senate. The endorsement follows the endorsement of a majority of Florida sheriffs and the Florida Police Chiefs Association who endorsed Rubio.
The Florida Police Benevolent Association is made up of 30,000 active duty law enforcement officers.
In a statement, John Kazanjian, the Florida PBA President, commented that the 30,000 members were endorsing Rubio, adding “I know you have our back, and we got yours.”
Steadman Stahl, the South Florida PBA President, added that Rubio has “been a true champion for law enforcement from the day he was [elected] in West Miami to where he’s at today,” saying that “it’s leaders like him that are going to make this a better country. This is a no brainer.”
In response, Rubio commented that people are going to “dial those three numbers” if there’s an emergency, “and someone with a uniform on is going to show up and they’re going to be willing to put their lives on the line to save yours or someone you loves [sic]”.
Asserting that law enforcement deserves “honor and respect” for the role that they play in society, Rubio added, “I don’t know of any other time when it’s been so important to support law enforcement across the country than it is right now.”
“I think back to that summer of 2020, when it was in vogue among some to go out and criticize and attack law enforcement,” Rubio noting, sharing that he is “deeply honored by this endorsement.”
Florida Rep. Val Demings (D) is a former Orlando Police Chief who has been criticized over her by some in the law enforcement community.
Her use of the “Chief Demings” title on the campaign trail has also been scrutinized.
