Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersOctober 16, 2017

Democratic U.S. Rep. Darren Soto of Orlando raised just $83,000 during the last quarter for his re-election campaign in Florida’s 9th Congressional District, yet neither of his Republican challengers in Florida’s 9th Congressional District raised much of anything. The new contributions through Sept. 30, minus $28,000 in campaign expenses, left Soto with $222,318 in the […]

Scott PowersSeptember 20, 2017

While Puerto Rico got hammered by Hurricane Maria, U.S. Rep. Darren Soto defended his re-election campaign fundraiser he is holding Wednesday night in Kissimmee, home to Florida’s most concentrated Puerto Rican population. Soto, a Democrat from Orlando, said he’s been in constant contact with Puerto Rico officials and readying federal financial support for the country’s […]

Scott PowersAugust 1, 2017

Republican congressional candidate Wayne Liebnitzky criticized the rent U.S. Rep. Darren Soto is paying for his Kissimmee office as “unusually extravagant expense of peoples’ money,” while the congressman defended the office Tuesday for its convenience and service to the district. Soto is spending $4,638 a month for his primary district office, plus $866 a month […]

Scott PowersMay 11, 2017

Republican congressional candidate Wayne Liebnitzky called out Democratic U.S. Rep. Darren Soto by charging that a tweet the congressman sent using the hashtag “BananaRepublicans” is divisive and beneath the office. On Wednesday, Soto, of Florida’s 9th Congressional District, covering parts of Orange, Osceola and Polk counties, tweeted criticism of President Donald Trump‘s firing of FBI […]

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 PowersJanuary 17, 2017

Let the 2018 campaign begin for Florida’s 9th Congressional District. Republican Wayne Liebnitzky, who lost to U.S. Rep. Darren Soto in November and now has filed to take him on again in 2018, slapped Soto for his announcement that he is boycotting the inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump. “I find it an absolute disgrace and […]

Scott PowersNovember 18, 2016

Of the three new members of Congress elected from Orlando this month, Democrat Darren Soto is the one who’s no mystery to constituents, and still committed to the same agenda he’s pursued for nearly 10 years in the Florida Legislature: a stronger, fairer economy. Soto, 38, an Orlando lawyer, defeated Republican businessman Wayne Liebnitzky for the open […]

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 4, 2016

Democratic nominee Darren Soto has collected $42,200 in large checks for his bid to be elected in the Orlando-based Florida’s 9th Congressional District since he filed his last full campaign finance report stating he had raised $1 million overall and had $83,000 in the bank. Soto’s opponent, Republican nominee Wayne Liebnitzky has neither the starting […]

Scott PowersSeptember 15, 2016

Personal financial disclosure statements for candidates in Florida’s 9th Congressional District race show the professional interests of Democratic lawyer Darren Soto and Republican tool business owner Wayne Liebnitzky say it all. Soto, a state senator from Orlando, lists no assets other than his and his wife’s retirement accounts and his law practice, Darren Soto Law […]

Tag: Wayne Liebnitzky
Donald Trump named Marty Makary, a Johns Hopkins surgeon, to lead the Food and Drug Administration.

Darren Soto’s slow campaign fundraising still unchallenged

Darren Soto defends fundraiser as not affecting his efforts for Puerto Rico

Wayne Liebnitzky criticizes the $4,600 a month in rent Darren Soto pays for Kissimmee office

Wayne Liebnitzky blasts Darren Soto for ‘BananaRepublicans’ tweet

Sean Buchan of Winter Haven enters CD 9 Republican field

Wayne Liebnitzky slams Darren Soto for boycotting inauguration

For Darren Soto, it’s still all about a stronger, fairer economy

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

Darren Soto draws $42K in big checks in closing weeks of CD 9 race

CD 9 personal financials: Darren Soto’s law practice and Wayne Liebnitzky’s tools business dominate