Darren Soto
Democratic Representative for Florida's 9th district, threatened by DeSantis's 24R-4D congressional map.
Last refreshed: 28 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Is Darren Soto's Central Florida seat safe from DeSantis's redistricting push?
Timeline for Darren Soto
DeSantis signs Florida 24R-4D map into law
US Midterms 2026DeSantis submits 24R-4D Florida map; session opens
US Midterms 2026- Who is Darren Soto and why is his seat threatened?
- Darren Soto is a Democratic US Representative for Florida's 9th District (Central Florida), the first Puerto Rican congressman from Florida. His seat is one of four targeted by Governor DeSantis's 24R-4D map submitted on 27 April 2026.Source: DeSantis map submission, 27 April 2026
- What is Darren Soto's district?
- Darren Soto represents Florida's 9th Congressional District, covering the Kissimmee and Central Florida area, which has a significant Puerto Rican and Hispanic Democratic voter base.
Background
Darren Soto is a Democratic US Representative for Florida's 9th Congressional District (Central Florida / Kissimmee area), first elected in 2016, and one of four Democratic incumbents targeted by the 24R-4D congressional map Governor Ron DeSantis submitted to the Florida legislature on 27 April 2026.
Soto is the first Puerto Rican member of Congress from Florida, and his district has a large Puerto Rican and Hispanic Democratic base in the Central Florida corridor. The DeSantis map would redraw his district in ways designed to dilute that base, threatening a seat Soto has held through a period of major demographic growth in Central Florida.
The Special Session D opened on 28 April 2026 without awaiting the Louisiana v. Callais SCOTUS ruling. If the map is adopted, it would affect the November 2026 congressional elections in Florida — one of the most consequential states for House control.