Soto Appears to Hold Florida District 9 Seat
Democrat Darren Soto appears to win a sixth term as Florida Republicans fail to flip his seat despite redrawn district lines.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Darren Soto appeared to win his sixth term in Congressional District 9 on November 3, 2026, taking 50.15% of the vote to Dan Green's 49.85%. The narrow margin may trigger a recount if it falls below 0.5% of total ballots cast.
Why it matters
Florida Republicans redrew district boundaries to give them an advantage in four districts that previously favored Democrats, and Soto's race was among the closest tests of that effort. Democrats were expected to make significant gains in the U.S. House.
Soto's margin of 0.30 percentage points in District 9 sits just above the 0.5% recount trigger, which the official tally will confirm. Republican Ryan Elijah led Bale Dalton 49.78% to 49.16% in District 7, a race that may also proceed to a recount.
The players
Darren Soto
A Democratic congressman representing Florida's 9th District, Soto appeared to win a sixth term in the 2026 general election.
Dan Green
A Republican candidate who lost to Soto in Congressional District 9 after winning his party's August primary.
Donald Trump
The current President of the United States, who held a rally in Daytona Beach with Florida GOP candidates before the election.
The details
Republicans redrew the boundary lines of District 9 to favor a GOP candidate, breaking up the Hispanic voting bloc and adding rural middle-state and coastal Vero Beach areas. The district covers core Osceola County and part of Orange County.
Timeline
April 2026: Congressman Daniel Webster announced his retirement, opening the District 11 seat.
August 2026: Republican primaries were held, and Dan Green and Ryan Elijah won nominations.
Friday before the election: A Trump rally was held in Daytona Beach with GOP candidates.
November 3, 2026: General election held, and Soto appeared to win re-election.
Political Context
Florida Republicans' redrawn maps were designed to flip four Democratic-leaning districts, but Soto's narrow hold in District 9 suggests the boundary changes did not deliver the expected gains. Opponents of the redistricting argued the new lines diluted Hispanic voting strength in the district.
Florida voters in the affected districts now have representatives chosen under newly drawn boundaries, which shape future legislative priorities and constituent services. The outcome will determine which party controls each seat for the next term.
The takeaway
Redistricting maps drawn to produce partisan gains can narrow sharply in practice, so voters should watch final certified totals rather than early projections.
What happens next
Possible recounts in Congressional Districts 9 and 7 will determine whether these margins are confirmed.
Further reading
Track the latest results in Florida Elections coverage.
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Do you think redrawing congressional district lines to favor one party is fair?
