ABC News May 18, 2021

Florida Rep. Val Demings planning to run for Senate against GOP's Marco Rubio

WATCH: Who is Val Demings?

Florida Rep. Val Demings is planning to run for U.S. Senate against Republican Sen. Marco Rubio next year, an adviser to Demings confirmed to ABC News Tuesday.

Demings, 64, was one of about a dozen women President Joe Biden considered as his pick for vice president. She also served as one of seven House managers at former President Donald Trump's first impeachment trial.

Now in her third term representing Florida's 10th Congressional District, Demings has been on the fence for months -- considering a run for the U.S. Senate or Florida governor -- but one source tells ABC News her decision came down to her increasing frustration with Senate Republicans and what she sees as their "obstruction" of critical legislation.

The source said Republican opposition to Biden's massive COVID-19 relief package "pushed her over the edge."

Pool/Getty Images, FILE
Rep Val Demings speaks during the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law hearing on Online Platforms and Market Power in the Rayburn House office Building, July 29, 2020 on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C.

A national Democrat with knowledge of the party’s strategy on Senate races also confirmed to ABC News that Demings is strongly considering a run for Senate.

"Val is an impressive and formidable candidate whose potential entrance would make the race against Rubio highly competitive," the source said Tuesday.

Demings would enter the race as Florida becomes increasingly red. Only one Democrat won statewide in 2018 -- Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried -- who has been positioning herself to challenge Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis next year.

MORE: Video: Who is Val Demings?

There are currently no Black women serving in the U.S. Senate. There’s has never been a black female governor in the nation’s history.

An adviser to Demings said she felt like the Senate is the next "natural step" in her public service career, which began as a police officer in Orlando.

Patrick Semansky/AP, FILE
Rep. Val Demings gives her opening statement during a House Judiciary Committee markup of the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Born in Jacksonville and currently residing in Orlando, Demings grew up the youngest of seven children and was the first to graduate from college in her family. She made history in 2007 when she was appointed to serve as Orlando's first female police chief.

She was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016.

MORE: Deadly force not 'only option' in Atlanta shooting: Rep. Val Demings

Demings' mulling a run was first reported by Politico. She told the outlet in April she was "seriously considering" a run for Senate or governor.

A formal announcement is expected in the coming weeks.

ABC News' Quinn Scanlan contributed to this report.