Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersMay 3, 2018

Digging in for a potentially bruising primary battle, Democratic U.S. Rep. Darren Soto kicked off his 2018 re-election campaign Thursday with a rally at which he called for an election about “respect and dignity… humility and service.” The call appeared as a response to Tuesday’s news that Soto now faces his predecessor Democratic former U.S. […]

Scott PowersMay 1, 2018

Former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson is entering the Democratic primary field against his successor U.S. Rep. Darren Soto ready to brawl, already going after the incumbent as someone he said has done nothing meaningful regarding the district, Puerto Rico, or President Donald Trump. In an interview Tuesday morning, Grayson took the fighting stance that recalled […]

Scott PowersMay 1, 2018

Former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson wants his old seat back, and is preparing to file Tuesday to take on fellow Democrat and incumbent U.S. Rep. Darren Soto in Florida’s 9th Congressional District. Grayson, who has been preparing for months for a last-minute announcement on a new run for Congress, holding back only the where, not […]

Scott PowersApril 6, 2018

A town hall to talk about guns that Democratic U.S. Rep. Darren Soto set for Saturday in St. Cloud is drawing criticism from his Republican election opponent Wayne Liebnitzky because the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School girls’ softball team is also in town. Liebnitzky called the town hall “a political stunt.” Soto earlier this week […]

Scott PowersMarch 16, 2018

Democratic U.S. Rep. Darren Soto has received endorsements from all ten of the other Democratic members of Congress from Florida, his re-election campaign announced Friday. The announced endorsements would come as no surprise and seemingly fill no particularly-urgent campaign purpose, since Soto’s only opponent thus far in Florida’s 9th Congressional District is a Republican, St. Cloud […]

Scott PowersMarch 8, 2018

Orlando Democratic U.S. Rep. Darren Soto just received the backing of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Political Action Committee, an endorsement he might need as a buffer against a possible primary challenge by a congressman who once was a big voice for that caucus. “Darren Soto is a fighter for economic justice. He works tirelessly for […]

Scott PowersFebruary 1, 2018

Democratic U.S. Rep. Darren Soto raised $116,652 in the fourth quarter of 2017, helping his re-election campaign in Florida’s 9th Congressional District finish the year with $289,378 in the bank. The relatively modest totals – compared with other Florida congressional incumbents – are nonetheless overwhelming compared with the only other candidate reporting in the race, […]

Scott PowersApril 24, 2017

A second Republican candidate, political newcomer, banker and veteran Sean A. Buchan of Winter Haven, has entered the race for Florida’s 9th Congressional District. Buchan, 31, a banker with Wells Fargo Bank in Winter Haven, filed to run late last week, joining last year’s GOP nominee Wayne Liebnitzky of St. Cloud in hoping to take down […]

Scott PowersNovember 8, 2016

State Sen. Darren Soto’s dream of becoming the first Puerto Rican member of Congress from Florida became reality Tuesday when he swept aside an underfunded Republican opponent in what is now clearly Florida’s first Puerto Rican-dominated congressional district. Early returns based on early voting and mail-in voting, gave Soto an insurmountable lead over Republican nominee […]

Scott PowersNovember 7, 2016

Democratic Florida State Sen. Darren Soto has received the endorsement of President Barack Obama for Florida’s 9th Congressional District. Soto faces Republican nominee Wayne Liebnitzky in CD 9, which covers southern Orange County, Osceola County, and eastern Polk County. “Darren will be the kind of progressive leader we need to build on all of the […]

Tag: CD 9
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Darren Soto calls for election battle about ‘respect and dignity’

Alan Grayson comes out ready to brawl

Alan Grayson entering CD 9 to take on Darren Soto

Darren Soto’s guns town hall draws criticism from Wayne Liebnitzky

Darren Soto endorsed by 10 other members of Fla. congressional district

Darren Soto gets backing of Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC

Darren Soto raises $116 for CD 9 re-election bid

Sean Buchan of Winter Haven enters CD 9 Republican field

Darren Soto wins CD 9, gives Florida its first Puerto Rican congressman

After warming up for Barack Obama, Darren Soto announces his endorsement in CD 9