Incumbent Democrat Darren Soto has been declared the winner of Florida’s 9th Congressional District, edging Republican challenger Dan Green by a margin of 1,506 votes. The Florida Department of State confirmed that the margin exceeds the 0.5 percent threshold that would trigger a machine recount, so the results will stand pending certification by the Elections Canvassing Commission on November 17, 2026.
Vote totals and district composition
According to the Florida Division of Elections, Soto received 143,314 votes, representing 50.3 percent of the total, while Green garnered 141,808 votes, or 49.7 percent. The 9th district, reshaped by a mid‑decade redistricting effort, now includes parts of the Treasure Coast and Okeechobee County, as well as portions of Highlands, Glades, Polk, Osceola and Orange counties.
During the campaign, Green performed strongly in the more rural counties of Glades, Highlands, Indian River, Okeechobee and Polk, whereas Soto held a decisive advantage in the densely populated areas of Osceola and Orange counties.
Soto’s response and priorities
In a statement posted to social media on Monday, November 9, Soto thanked voters for their support and acknowledged the challenges posed by recent redistricting. “We are very grateful to the voters for their support! This was a tough election, especially after gerrymandering, but we ultimately prevailed,” he said. He pledged to focus on lowering costs, protecting healthcare, and combating corruption in Washington, while also emphasizing job creation, infrastructure, affordable housing, and conservation projects for Central Florida, the Heartland and the Coast.
Soto also highlighted his commitment to safeguarding Social Security and Medicare, supporting local agriculture, assisting veterans, and pursuing a humane immigration system paired with strong border security. He expressed confidence that these goals could be achieved through bipartisan cooperation.
Redistricting context
Governor Ron DeSantis called a special session in late April 2026 to redraw congressional district lines, citing population shifts revealed by the 2020 Census. Democrats accused Republicans of using the redistricting process to favor GOP candidates and potentially add up to four new congressional seats for the party.
Prior to the mid‑decade map changes, Soto’s district was centered around the Orlando area, a region that traditionally leaned Democratic. The new configuration was intended to make the district more competitive for Republicans, yet Soto’s victory demonstrates that Democratic candidates can still succeed in reconfigured districts.
Broader implications
Florida currently holds 28 congressional seats, with Republicans occupying 20 and Democrats holding eight. Soto’s win, along with victories by Democratic candidates Pia Dandiya in the 22nd district and Jared Moskowitz in the 25th district, suggests that Democrats were able to retain key seats even in districts redrawn to favor the GOP.
The Florida Department of State noted that a machine recount will be ordered only in races where the margin is half of one percent or less. Those races include Congressional District 27 in Miami‑Dade and House District 33 in Brevard. The 9th district’s margin fell outside that range, so the results stand as reported.
Next steps
The Elections Canvassing Commission is scheduled to certify the official results on November 17. Until then, Soto’s office will begin preparing for the upcoming congressional session, focusing on the policy priorities outlined in his victory statement.
Original reporting: WPBF West Palm Beach — read the source article.
