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Darren Soto
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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

Key Question

Is Darren Soto's Central Florida seat safe from DeSantis's redistricting push?

Timeline for Darren Soto

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Common Questions
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.