Defeating three competitors after consistently leading the race for her party’s nomination, Rep. Val Demings handily wins the 2022 Democratic primary to challenge Sen. Marco Rubio in November.

It’s a contest both parties will spend lots of time and money on, with the Senate’s delicate balance of power potentially impacted by the outcome. If Demings were to beat Rubio at the ballot box, Republicans would cede a seat to the Democrats’ razor-thin majority.

With a political eternity until the general election leaving the results far from decided, Demings’ support among Democrats is clearly rock-solid.

Her opponents — Ricardo De La Fuente, Brian Rush and William Sanchez — raised just more than $300,000 combined. While Demings has raised nearly $48 million.

Rubio has raised nearly $37 million.

A recent poll shows the Republican senator four points behind the former Orlando police chief, who went Beyond the Soundbite in 2020 on her journey from law enforcement to politics.

While Demings’ primary election nomination raises concerns for Senate Republicans, it creates a potential opportunity for conservatives in the House. The candidates running to fill her District 10 seat joined Spectrum News and our partners for a conversation on the big issues facing Florida and the nation.

Rubio recently sat down with Spectrum News to discuss inflation and the search of former President Trump's Florida home.