Jerry Demings

Jerry L. Demings (born June 12, 1959) is an American politician and former law enforcement officer serving as the 5th Mayor of Orange County since 2018. He is the first African American to hold the position. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as Sheriff of Orange County from 2009 to 2018 and as Chief of the Orlando Police Department from 1998 to 2002.

Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, Demings graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor's degree in finance in 1980. After a brief career in accounting, he joined the Orlando Police Department in 1981 and worked as a detective until his appointment as chief of police in 1998, becoming the first African American to hold the post. In 2008, Demings was elected sheriff of Orange County, the first African American elected countywide. His tenure occurred during the 2016 Orlando nightclub massacre; the deadliest terrorist attack in the United States since the September 11 attacks and the second deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. He was re-elected in 2012 and 2016.

Due to Florida's resign-to-run laws, Demings stepped down as sheriff to run for county mayor in 2018; winning the August primary outright and avoiding a run-off election. The first Democrat elected mayor of Orange County, he was re-elected to a second term in 2022 with over 60% of the vote.

Demings is married to First Lady Val Demings, a former U.S. representative and the 2022 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Florida.