New ad: U.S. Rep. Demings slams Marco Rubio on abortion ban

Following the controversial Roe v. Wade ruling, U.S. Rep. Val Demings on Monday slammed U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio in a new digital campaign ad, alleging that Rubio supports a total ban on abortions and other issues that could wreak havoc on women’s rights.

Demings, a former police chief in Orlando, included a short clip, 30 seconds, of her opponent in the U.S. Senate race in 2022. The Demings ad shows Rubio in the clip, saying “I believe Roe v. Wade should be overturned.”

Demings’ ad also states that Rubio supports forcing pregnant women to deliver their babies, “even for victims of rape or incest.”

The ad came after the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion, which triggered protests from reproductive rights advocates in Florida and across the nation.

“Marco Rubio is a radical who has worked relentlessly to…punish women, and ban abortion with no exceptions,” Christian Slater, spokesman for Demings, said in a written statement Monday.

“Chief Demings put rapists and abusers behind bars and knows we can’t put women at risk with extremist abortion bans. She will never back down from defending a woman’s right to choose.”

Although Florida currently doesn’t have a trigger law that would entirely ban abortions, a 15-week abortion ban passed during the past legislation session will take effect Friday.

According to report from NPR, “thirteen states had trigger bans, laws that were written to take effect either immediately, by state official certification or after a 30-day waiting period, if Roe is overturned.”

The Demings campaign also created a website entitled “Rubio’s Plan for Women” featuring the new video and blasting Rubio for his alleged stance on other issues involving women.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Gregory, Rubio’s campaign spokeswoman, said Monday in an email to the Phoenix that “Val Demings supports abortion up until the moment of birth and expects Florida taxpayers to foot the bill.”

She added: “Demings is desperate to divert attention from her fervent support of Joe Biden’s agenda, which led to skyrocketing inflation and record high gas prices. When Floridians go to the ballot box in November, they’re going to blame Val Demings and Democrat-controlled Washington for the extra $460 a month that they’re spending on necessities.”