Darren Soto

Darren Michael Soto (born February 25, 1978) is an American attorney and Democratic politician from Kissimmee, Florida, who is the U.S. representative for Florida's 9th district.

Before his election to Congress, Soto served four years in the Florida Senate and five in the Florida House of Representatives, representing parts of central Florida.

Soto was born in Ringwood, New Jersey, to a Puerto Rican father, O. Lou Soto, and an Italian-American mother, Jean Soto.

He attended Lakeland Regional High School, and then got his BA at Rutgers University and JD at George Washington University.

In 2006, Soto ran for the Florida House of Representatives from the 40th district, unsuccessfully challenging incumbent Andy Gardiner.

In April 2007, he won the crowded Democratic primary in a special election to replace John Quinones, who had resigned to run for the Osceola County Commission.

In the general election, Soto defeated Republican nominee Tony Suarez by 285 votes.

Soto was overwhelmingly reelected in 2008 and 2010.

During his three terms in the Florida House, Soto supported laws to curb illegal street racing, passed the “John C Curry” Firefighter Death Benefit Act to protect families of fallen firefighters who died in training exercises, and the Bus Driver Notification Act to help school bus safety.

In 2012, Florida Senate districts were redrawn, and Soto opted not to run for reelection in the House but instead to run for the newly created 14th district, which included predominantly Latino areas of Orange, Osceola, and Polk Counties.

He won his party's nomination uncontested and defeated Republican nominee Will McBride with over 70% of the vote.

In 2013, Soto voted for legislation to expedite driver's license access for DREAMers but it was ultimately vetoed by Governor Rick Scott, setting off statewide protests.

He unsuccessfully proposed an amendment to require jury votes of 10 jurors rather than a majority of 7 for death penalties.

In 2014, Soto passed legislation answering the Florida Supreme Court's call to give it the authority to admit immigrant lawyers to the Florida Bar.

He secured the initial state funding to establish a Poinciana Valencia Campus and to initiate the Lake Toho Restoration, which will clean water flowing through the Northern Everglades.

In addition, he led the Democratic House and Senate Caucuses in drafting a Congressional map during the 2014 Special Session on Redistricting.

During the 2015 legislative session, Soto was fundamental in securing $11.9 million in funding for Valencia College's Poinciana campus.

He also successfully pushed for $20 million to restore the Kissimmee River.

This earned him the Audubon Society of Florida's "Champion of the Everglades" award.

Soto also proposed legislation to ban fracking in Florida.

He secured $10 million in Florida's budget to promote economic growth in Osceola County for a new facility to manufacture high-tech sensors, but Governor Scott vetoed the project.

Soto also introduced a bill to boost minimum teacher pay to $50,000 per year.

Soto steered funding to his district, including $15 million for the UCF Sensors Manufacturing Center, $12 million to complete the construction of the Poinciana Valencia College campus, $4 million in supplemental school construction money, $750,000 for the Northern Everglades and Lake Toho initiatives, and $150,000 for a transition house that offers temporary housing for veterans.

In 2016, Soto supported Chloe's Law to construct barriers around water bodies adjacent to state roads, the Deaf Floridian's ID bill, and the Juvenile Clean Slate bill, which automatically seals misdemeanor records for juveniles who reach 21 years of age and do not reoffend as adults.

Soto won the Democratic nomination to succeed Representative Alan Grayson, who stepped down to run in the primary for U.S. Senate in Florida's 9th congressional district.

Soto earned 36% of the vote in a four-way primary election.

The district is Democratic-leaning and contains all of Osceola County and parts of Orange and Polk counties.

Soto represented the majority of this district while serving in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate.

The Orlando Sentinel endorsed him in his primary race, calling him an "effective lawmaker".

In the general election, Soto defeated Republican nominee Wayne Liebnitzky, 57%–43%.

On August 28, Soto won the Democratic primary with 66% of the vote, defeating a challenge from Grayson.

Soto received endorsements from multiple Democratic organizations, such as the National Organization for Women, Pride Fund to End Gun Violence, Giffords PAC, Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida, National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare, Equality PAC, League of Conservation Voters, Human Rights Campaign, Florida AFL-CIO, Florida Young Democrats, Orlando Professional Fire Fighters International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1365, Central Florida Police Benevolent Association, Florida LGBTA Democratic Caucus, eMgage PAC, Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, and Planned Parenthood.

Soto also had the backing of Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Representatives John Lewis and Linda Sánchez, Florida State Senator Vic Torres, and every Florida Democratic member of Congress.

On November 6, Soto won the general election, defeating Republican nominee Wayne Liebnitzky with 58% of the vote.

Soto ran for a third term and was virtually unopposed in the Democratic primary, with only one challenger, who dropped out in October 2019.

In the November 3 general election, he defeated Republican nominee Bill Olson with just over 56% of the vote.

In 2022, Soto won his fourth term, running in the general election against Scotty Moore, whom he defeated with nearly 54% of the vote.

Soto is the first congressman of Puerto Rican descent elected from Florida.

In his first few weeks, Speaker Nancy Pelosi named him one of three freshmen members to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.

He was also named co-chair of the House Democratic Caucus New Economy Task Force.