Senator Marco Rubio may have his biggest challenge yet to winning back his Senate seat next year. Today Rep. Val Demings officially entered the race for the U.S. senate that Rubio currently holds. In her first ad, the Democrat says:

“I know how to get through tough times, and I think we would all agree that we’re in some really tough, unusual times right now. But I’m not afraid of a tough fight. We are dealing with some critical issues. And we need bold, courageous leaders to deal with those issues. And the bottom line is, too many times Marco Rubio did not show up. And when he did, he did not have enough courage to fight for Florida.”

Normally this would be early to start attacking a challenger, that’s why it’s curious that Rubio already appears on the defensive. According to the Orlando Sentinel, “Rubio has tried to get ahead of Demings’ expected announcement by going on the attack, telling Fox News on Monday, “None of them [Demings and other Democrats] will admit to being a socialist. She probably won’t. But she certainly has voted for socialist things.”

The far-left line may be a tough one for Rubio to push with Demings. The 64-year-old was the former police chief in Orlando and isn’t considered an extremist.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the woman who is challenging Florida Governor Ron DeSantis next year had this to say.

With Vice President Kamala Harris leaving her Senate seat, there are currently no Black women in the Senate.