In Florida, Democrats Serve PAC praises Ayala announcement for Congress, expresses excitement for the prospect of Demings challenging Rubio

Milford, CT (May 26, 2021) – Today, Democrats Serve — a new national political action committee (PAC) that supports Democrats running for office with public service backgrounds — praised Aramis Ayala’s announcement of her bid for Congress and expressed encouragement for former police chief and current Congresswoman Val Demings’s planned Senate run.

Brett Broesder, the PAC’s executive director, noted that Congresswoman Demings, a former Orlando police chief, and Ayala, who worked as a public defender before becoming Florida’s first Black state attorney, are excellent examples of Democrats with public service backgrounds who are well-positioned to excel as candidates and lawmakers. Democrats Serve works to support public service candidates, who often lack access to the built-in fundraising networks of other candidates.

“For public service pros like Ayala and Congresswoman Demings, strengthening their communities isn't just a job; it's a way of life,” said Broesder. “Their first-hand experience with the real-life impact of policies makes for compelling campaign narratives and effective policymaking. Unfortunately, Democrats running for office with these backgrounds often fall short due to a lack of financial support. That’s why Democrats Serve aims to ensure Democratic candidates with public service backgrounds have the financial and strategic support necessary to win elections.”

Broesder also said that the group is making a concerted effort to recruit diverse candidates with public safety and justice system experience.

“Republicans, including Senator Marco Rubio, are turning their backs on law enforcement by refusing to investigate what role politics played in allowing insurrectionists to kill a Capitol Police officer,” said Broesder. “140 officers from Metropolitan Police and Capitol police were injured during the attack, too. Senator Rubio has made his priorities clear: appeasing right-wing extremists trumps law and order. On the other hand, Congresswoman Demings climbed the ranks of Orlando’s police department to become the city’s first woman police chief. She puts the safety and security of Floridians first. That’s why Congresswoman Demings would be the best choice for U.S. Senate in 2022.”

Democrats Serve’s overall national effort consists of recruiting, training, and supporting Democrats with backgrounds serving communities in government — at the federal, state, and local levels — including teachers, police officers, firefighters, first responders, social workers, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, public health nurses, and more.

In officially launching last week, the committee rolled out a diverse group of former and current elected officials nationwide supporting the PAC’s mission, including Florida State Senator Shevrin Jones. He’s an educator and research specialist at the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.

“Teaching high school chemistry at a public school gave me a unique perspective on the challenges our young people face and solutions needed to improve education,” said Jones. “Democrats Serve will help more educators get elected to public office so we can create more opportunities for our future.”

Democrats Serve will soon announce details about a nationwide summer training program for candidates and potential candidates for all levels of public office. An application for the training program is posted here.

About Democrats Serve

Democrats Serve is a political action committee (PAC) that supports Democrats running for office – at the federal, state, and local levels – with civil and public service backgrounds. The group does this by recruiting, training, and supporting Democrats nationwide with backgrounds serving communities in government, including police officers, firefighters, first responders, social workers, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, educators, and more.