While much of the media attention has focused on California Sen. Kamala Harris, former national security adviser Susan Rice and California Rep. Karen Bass, there is another qualified Black candidate who warrants a closer look -- Florida Rep. Val Demings. A former social worker turned police chief, Demings impressed so many people after her retirement that she was urged to run for Congress. After she won, she became a rising star, and most recently, she was asked to be one of seven managers in the impeachment efforts against Donald Trump, Demings would bring a set of important, albeit disparate, experiences to the number two position on the ticket.
Recent polls indicate that Biden would win if the election were held today, but he shouldn't be overly confident, given how Hillary Clinton's lead in the polls didn't bring her victory in 2016.
So, if Biden cannot rest easy, what should he do? Choose a candidate who is sure to attract voters, not just in the Democratic Party, but also among independents and moderate Republicans.
Demings, with her unique set of job experiences, has that ability.
First, Black women are the Democratic Party's most loyal constituency. In 2016, over 90% of Black women voted for Hillary Clinton. If there is a Black female nominee on the Democratic ticket, like Demings, they may be even more motivated to vote, seeing the prospect of electing someone who represents them as more real than ever before.
And their vote matters. Unlike other voting blocs, Black women turn out to vote. In 2008, 75% of Black women voted, and, in 2012, 74% voted. Though their participation dropped to 66% in 2016, Black women voted in large numbers (55%) once again in the 2018 midterm elections, according to the US Census. And that trend could continue with the right vice presidential nominee.
Of course, Demings is one of several Black women in contention. And so it's worth considering the advantages she has over the other candidates.
Demings, Orlando's first Black female police chief, could help attract voters who support a police presence in their communities. While in the wake of George Floyd's death -- and month of protests against police brutality -- Demings may not seem the obvious candidate to be Biden's running mate. But it's important to remember that for all the controversies that plagued her tenure in law enforcement, she has defended her record even though officers used force more often on black suspects. Also, an African American man unsuccessfully sued the city after an officer shot him in the back after mistaking him for a robbery suspect.
Despite these setbacks, she had quite a few successes as police chief. Demings developed initiatives that assisted the residents of the city's poorest neighborhoods while at the same time improving police-community relations. During her tenure as police chief, the Operation Positive Direction Program allowed police volunteers to mentor at- risk kids --many of whom were African Americans and Latinos-- and participate in community engagement activities.
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