Jim Rosica
Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator and star of the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton,” is a supporter of state Sen. Darren Soto.
So, it turns out, is his whole immediate family.
Campaign finance reports show Miranda chipped in $1,500 to Soto’s congressional campaign on Aug. 2.
He lists his occupation as “rapper.”
Miranda achieved wide success and fame with “Hamilton,” described by Rolling Stone as “the most unlikely cultural phenomenon in a generation — a hip-hop musical about the Founding Father best known for authoring the bulk of the Federalist Papers and being killed in a duel.”
“I think it’s very clear that Latinos living in the United States — their interests are bound up in voting this year … making sure people turn out is going to be a priority for me,” he told The Hill in June. “Our issues are on the table, from Puerto Rico to a wall to keep half of us out being a [Republican] Party platform. It’s important we get out and vote.”
Miranda’s mother, clinical psychologist Luz Towns-Miranda, also gave $1,000 to Soto’s campaign on the same date.
His sister, Luz Miranda-Crespo, ponied up $1,500 in December, records show. She’s the chief financial officer of his production company.
And his father, Luis Miranda Jr., also gave $2,500 last year. The elder Miranda is a political consultant and “major player” in New York Democratic politics, according to The Daily Beast.
Miranda, born in New York City, has a Puerto Rican heritage. Soto was born in New Jersey, but his father is Puerto Rican and mother is Italian-American.
Soto, an Orlando Democrat, is running for Central Florida’s 9th Congressional District. The seat is now held by Democrat Alan Grayson, who is running for U.S. Senate.
Soto told FloridaPolitics.com that Miranda’s father threw a fundraiser for him in New York earlier this month. If he wins, Soto would be the first Puerto Rican to be elected to Congress from Florida.
Lin-Manuel Miranda has “taken a keen interest in the Hispanic community in Central Florida,” Soto said, including co-writing a song with Jennifer Lopez to benefit victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando.
“We’re happy to have his support,” Soto said.
(Photo: Steve Jurvetson via Flickr.com)
