Val Butler Demings

Val Demings is a lifelong public servant who broke numerous glass ceilings in her rise through the Orlando Police Department, her election to Congress, her appointment to prosecute the (first) impeachment of former president Donald Trump, her campaign for Senate in Florida, and her consideration as potential running mate to President Joe Biden.

A speaker, commentator, writer, and community leader, Demings is available for speaking engagements at conferences, conventions, educational institutions, and other events. You can contact her here.

Val Butler Demings learned from her parents about the American Dream. They didn’t have much: two parents and seven children in a small wood-framed house in Jacksonville. Her mother Elouise Butler worked as a maid; her father James as a janitor, landscaper, and orange picker — as many jobs as it took to get by. “Work hard and play by the rules,” they taught her. ”Have faith.” “Treat others as you want to be treated.” “Never tire of doing good.” In America, these were the building blocks of a successful life.

She took her first job at 14 as a dishwasher. Became the first in her family to go to college, showing up with $50 in her pocket and working at a fast food restaurant to pay her way to a B.S. in Criminology from Florida State University and a later Master’s in Public Administration. She became a social worker, working to protect children in broken homes. Then, dismayed at a system that was leaving too many families behind, she signed up to become a police officer — an officer with a social worker’s heart.

It was a tough path, and tougher still in the 80s for a woman and Black American in a profession that had few of either. But she determinedly pushed forward, graduating from the police academy as class president, receiving the Board of Trustees’ Award for Overall Excellence, and earning the reputation of a bold, creative cop willing to take on conventional thinking and the toughest parts of the city.

Chief Demings served 27 years and at every rank level in the department. She commanded the Special Operations division and handled the department’s highest-profile tasks. She attended the 226th session of the FBI National Academy and the FBI Executive Institute. She coordinated the response of the Airport Division on 9/11. And in 2007, she made history when she was appointed to serve as the city’s first female Chief of Police.

The eyes of the city were on her. The financial crisis was squeezing budgets. But by taking the tough fights head-on, she did more with less, kept officers on the street, and crushed violent crime, reducing it by 40%.

By working closely with the Orlando community, Chief Demings made the concept of “protect and serve” a tangible presence in Orlando’s most dangerous neighborhoods. She launched innovative programs like Operation Positive Direction, a mentoring program that empowers at-risk students through tutoring, community service, and positive incentives. She also launched Operation Free Palms, a project focusing on rejuvenating Orlando’s most crime-ridden housing complex. By focusing on unorthodox strategies like financial literacy, building playgrounds, a GED program, and job skills training, she improved the quality of life in Orlando’s most distressed community.

In 2016, Chief Demings was elected by the voters of Florida’s 10th District to serve in Congress. She swiftly gained a reputation as a tireless champion for public safety, civil rights, the rule of law, and the American Dream that had given her a chance to succeed.

She fought to grow opportunity for all Americans with legislation to grow our economy and reduce household costs. She fought for an end to gun violence and to keep our communities safe, introducing bills to crack down on illegal guns and create common-sense rules to keep weapons of war out of the wrong hands. She worked to ensure law enforcement had the tools and resources needed to stay safe and keep communities safe.

Val Demings in the Washington Post: My fellow brothers and sisters in blue, what the hell are you doing?

Val Demings on The Ellen Show discussing accountability in law enforcement.

After Donald Trump’s first impeachment in 2019, Demings was appointed impeachment manager for the Senate trial – one of the first women and first Black Americans to ever serve in that role, and the only non-lawyer on the team. She gained widespread acclaim for her conduct, speaking to the nation as a deliberative and justice-focused prosecutor who fought to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law.

Val Demings’ Judiciary Committee Opening Statement in the impeachment of President Trump.

Val Demings on The View discussing the Trump impeachment.

Val Demings in the Orlando Sentinel: Why we impeached Trump — and what’s next

Val Demings in the Washington Post: Remember Senate Republicans who dismissed Trump’s wrongdoing — and show them the door

Demings served on the House Committees on Judiciary, Intelligence, Homeland Security, and Oversight and Government Reform. She chaired the House Homeland Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. She was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Women’s Caucus, and New Democratic Caucus, a member of the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Review Board and the Elections Security Taskforce, and served as Assistant and Regional Whip for the House Democratic Caucus, Co-Chair of Candidate Recruitment for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and Vice Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.

In 2022, Demings ran for Senate in her home state of Florida. In a hotly contested election, she raised record support from Floridians and from across the country by continuing to fight for the same issues she has championed throughout her life: public safety, opportunity, and the American Dream.

Demings traveled to every corner of Florida, talking to people who agreed with her and people who disagreed. She spoke about housing, health care, the environment, public safety, and other issues top of mind for working families throughout the state.

Wrote Vanity Fair, “she’d also been watching the manufactured culture wars and subjugating GOP-backed bills emanating from Florida: restricting mail-in voting, creating election policing, passing the anti-LGBTQ+ ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, making abortion all but illegal. Meanwhile, there were key pieces of legislation going to the Senate to die: the George Floyd Policing Act, the Violence Against Women Act, and immigration reform. Put together, these developments convinced Demings that, ‘yeah, we need to make Florida better. But in the Senate, we can make America better. And if we make America better, then Florida and 49 other states are better.'”

Wrote the Palm Beach Post in their endorsement, “Demings has made what should have been a cakewalk for a Republican incumbent in a politically red state much more competitive.”

“I’m with Val Demings all the way” said Congresswoman Lois Frankel during Rep. Demings’ VP speculation.

“In Val there’s hope,” said Congresswoman Robin Kelly, “that we can move closer to that promise of America.”

Said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, “Val Demings is an individual whose values are solid. Who is an honest and trustworthy public servant. Who has the skill, the knowledge, and the experience.”

A graduate of Florida State University and Webster University, Demings holds an honorary doctorate of laws from Bethune-Cookman University, as well as honorary doctorates from Florida Technical College and City College Fort Lauderdale. Rep. Demings is an active member of St. Mark A.M.E. Church, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Orlando Chapter of the Links, Inc., NAACP Silver Life Member, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, National Congress of Black Women, and numerous other affiliations.

Post-Congress, Demings has also joined the Bipartisan Policy Center as an Executive Fellow, working together to get things done and improve the quality of life of the American people. She is also currently serving as a distinguished Fellow at Georgetown University.

Val Demings on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon discussing her experience being considered as running mate to President Joe Biden.

Val Demings and her husband Jerry Demings (currently serving as Mayor of Orange County) have been blessed with three children and five grandchildren. When she’s not fighting for our democracy and spending time with her family, she rides her Harley-Davidson Road King Classic.

Through all of it, she has never tired of doing good, the lesson taught to her by her parents in their home in Jacksonville. She has never given up on the promise of what America could be, if we have the courage to fight for it.