Candidate · November 3, 2026
Darren Soto
On the ballot for U.S. House · Florida's 9th District
- raised through Oct 14, 2026
- $3.7M
- cash on hand
- $250K
- issues with public statements
- 26
- outside spending for or against
- $903K
§1On the ballot
Why this matters: This is exactly how the candidate appears on your ballot, from the state's official candidate list.
§2Who they are
Why this matters: Background and experience help you judge how someone might do the job. These come from public records and the candidate's own materials.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Darren Soto graduated from Rutgers University and George Washington University School of Law and ran his own law firm for more than 10 years.6 He served five and a half years in the Florida House of Representatives and four years in the Florida Senate.6 He was elected to Congress in 2016 and serves on the House Energy and Commerce and Natural Resources committees.6 His campaign website says he is the first person of Puerto Rican descent to serve in Congress from Florida.6
Why they say they're running
His campaign website says he is running for re-election to lower costs, protect health care and stop corruption, including by stopping tariffs and cuts to Medicaid and the ACA and protecting Social Security and Medicare.6
Service in Congress since 2023
Websites and accounts
- Official websitesoto.house.gov5
- X (Twitter)x.com/RepDarrenSoto7
- Facebookfacebook.com/CongressmanDarrenSoto7
- YouTubeyoutube.com/repdarrensoto7
- Instagraminstagram.com/RepDarrenSoto7
- Campaign websitedarrensoto.com6,
8 - X (Twitter)x.com/darrensoto6
- Facebookfacebook.com/DarrenSotoFlorida6
- YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCMPJK6_8Qou5dZnmNPhk2gg6
§3What they've said on the issues
Why this matters: These are positions the candidate has stated publicly — on their campaign website or in public statements — summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Issues they haven't spoken about publicly are left out.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Each issue has its own range of views. A position is marked on that range only when the candidate's own statement clearly matches one option; there is no overall left–right score.
Economy, Jobs and Trade
His campaign website says he opposes increased tariffs and other policies that are raising the cost of groceries, gasoline and health care.6,
A 2018 Spanish-language page still on his campaign website says NAFTA did not work and that he opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership.10
Health Care
His campaign website says he is fighting the recent cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and the ACA and will do everything he can to reverse them.11
- Reduce federal Medicaid spending further, such as by giving states fixed yearly amounts (block grants or per-person limits)
- Keep the funding rules set by the 2025 law
- Reverse the 2025 changes or increase federal funding
His campaign website says recent cuts to the ACA are driving up health care costs and that he will work to reverse them.6,
A 2018 Spanish-language page still on his campaign website says he supports Medicare for All as a public option to complement the ACA and will keep working to preserve and improve the ACA.12
A 2018 Spanish-language page still on his campaign website says he has been leading the fight to expand Medicaid in Florida.12
Social Security and Medicare
His campaign website says he supports the Social Security 2100 Act and similar bills that would scrap the cap on income subject to the payroll tax and fully fund Social Security to 2100 and beyond.13
- Keep the current cap
- Also tax earnings above a higher level, such as $250,000 or $400,000
- Apply the tax to all earnings
His campaign website says he is fighting to protect Social Security for today's seniors and future generations and is ready to act to stop the roughly 25% cut in payments it says will come in 2032 if Congress does nothing.13
Elections and Government Reform
His campaign website says he has supported legislation to stop stock trading by members of Congress and the administration, and that he has never owned shares of stock.14
- Ban members and their spouses and dependent children from owning or trading individual stocks
- Ban members themselves from trading individual stocks
- No ban; keep the reporting rules, with stronger penalties for late reports
Housing
His campaign website says he voted for the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which it says restricts institutional investors from buying up single-family homes.15
His campaign website says the housing law he voted for encourages more inclusive zoning and streamlines small affordable housing projects, and that he has delivered over $133 million in federal funds for affordable housing.15
His campaign website says he strongly supports the First-Time Homebuyer Program, VA loans and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.15
Agriculture and Rural Life
His campaign website says he fought for funding for farm capital, water supply and disaster relief while on the Agriculture Committee and voted for the bipartisan 2026 Farm Bill.16
His campaign website says he voted for Homeland Security budgets that made the farmworker visa process more efficient.17
Energy and Climate
His campaign website says he supports renewable energy and tax credits for electric vehicles, hybrids, solar and wind.18
A 2018 Spanish-language page still on his campaign website criticizes President Trump's withdrawal of the United States from the Paris climate agreement and says the country should lead efforts to cut fossil fuel emissions.19
A 2018 Spanish-language page still on his campaign website opposes expanding offshore drilling along Florida's coasts and says he is working to ban fracking on all public lands.20
Immigration
His campaign website says he has supported bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform with border security and a pathway to citizenship or residency for Dreamers, TPS recipients and farmworkers.17
Infrastructure and Transportation
His campaign website says he is working to connect SunRail and Brightline to Orlando International Airport, the theme parks and eventually Tampa.21
His campaign website says he fought for and voted for a disaster relief package that provided $4 billion for Puerto Rico and $5 billion for Central Florida.22
Foreign Policy and Defense
His campaign website says he has steadily voted for the National Defense Authorization Act and Defense Department funding, including higher pay and better equipment, housing and health care for service members.23
Guns
A 2018 Spanish-language page still on his campaign website lists universal background checks for all gun purchases in a gun safety plan he proposed in Congress.24
- Require checks for all gun sales, including private sales (with exceptions such as gifts between family members)
- Require checks for private sales at gun shows and online, but not other private sales
- Keep current law, with checks required only for sales by licensed dealers
A 2018 Spanish-language page still on his campaign website lists banning assault weapons and bump stocks in a gun safety plan he proposed in Congress.24
- Ban the sale of these rifles
- Keep sales legal, with added limits such as a minimum buying age of 21
- No bans or added limits on these rifles
A 2018 Spanish-language page still on his campaign website lists creating a red flag system for gun restraining orders in a gun safety plan he proposed in Congress.24
- Adopt more red flag laws, including a national one
- Leave the choice to each state
- Repeal existing red flag laws and adopt no new ones
Courts, Rights and Civil Liberties
A 2018 Spanish-language page still on his campaign website says he will work to pass the Equality Act to protect LGBT Americans from discrimination in employment, housing and education.25
- Pass broad protections such as the Equality Act
- Add protections with broad exemptions for religious groups and businesses
- No new federal protections; leave it to the states
Abortion and Reproductive Health
A 2018 Spanish-language page still on his campaign website says women have the right to control their own bodies and that reproductive health care decisions belong to a woman and her doctor, and says he led the Florida Senate fight against a 24-hour abortion waiting period bill, and that the Florida Supreme Court later suspended the law after an ACLU lawsuit built on his arguments.26
§4Popular bills that never got a vote
Why this matters: Many bills with wide support from both parties never reach a vote, so no member of Congress is ever on record for or against them. Signing on as a sponsor or cosponsor is the only public record of support.
While Darren Soto served, these bills had broad support from both parties but never reached a floor vote. No officeholder ever had to vote on them. Darren Soto sponsored or cosponsored 42 of the 52. How bills die without a vote.
See all 52
- Lets combat-disabled veterans get full military retirement pay plus disability pay (H.R. 2102, 119th Congress · 340 cosponsors)27Cosponsored
- Ends pay reductions for combat-disabled military retirees with under 20 years of service (H.R. 1282, 118th Congress · 326 cosponsors)28Cosponsored
- Allows Medicare to cover multi-cancer early detection screening tests (H.R. 2407, 118th Congress · 319 cosponsors)29Cosponsored
- Sets electronic prior-approval and reporting rules for Medicare Advantage plans (H.R. 3514, 119th Congress · 308 cosponsors)30Cosponsored
- Expands and revises the low-income housing tax credit for affordable rental housing (H.R. 3238, 118th Congress · 273 cosponsors)31Cosponsored
- Ends waiting periods for disability benefits and Medicare for metastatic breast cancer (H.R. 549, 118th Congress · 272 cosponsors)32Cosponsored
- Ends disability benefit and Medicare waiting periods for metastatic breast cancer (H.R. 2048, 119th Congress · 271 cosponsors)33Cosponsored
- Requires new vehicles to include AM radio as standard equipment (H.R. 3413, 118th Congress · 270 cosponsors)34Cosponsored
- Extends the parks maintenance fund and adds higher park fees for foreign visitors (H.R. 9250, 119th Congress · 263 cosponsors)35Cosponsored
- Expands federal anti-soring rules for show horses and raises penalties (H.R. 3090, 118th Congress · 248 cosponsors)36Cosponsored
- Expands Medicare telehealth coverage by removing location limits and other restrictions (H.R. 4206, 119th Congress · 248 cosponsors)37Cosponsored
- Bans slaughtering horses and other equines for human food (H.R. 1661, 119th Congress · 238 cosponsors)38Cosponsored
- Sets new federal care standards for dogs kept by commercial dog dealers and breeders (H.R. 1624, 118th Congress · 237 cosponsors)39Cosponsored
- Permanently bans slaughtering horses and other equines for human food (H.R. 3475, 118th Congress · 236 cosponsors)40Cosponsored
- Requires employer health plans to allow exceptions to step-therapy drug rules (H.R. 2630, 118th Congress · 235 cosponsors)41Cosponsored
- Sets electronic prior-approval and reporting rules for Medicare Advantage plans (H.R. 8702, 118th Congress · 231 cosponsors)42Cosponsored
- Targets crimes against postal workers; authorizes money for more secure mailboxes and keys (H.R. 1065, 119th Congress · 231 cosponsors)43Cosponsored
- Adds Medicare coverage of blood tests to screen for early Alzheimer's disease (H.R. 6130, 119th Congress · 231 cosponsors)44Cosponsored
- Bans most animal testing of cosmetics and sales of cosmetics developed with it (H.R. 5399, 118th Congress · 227 cosponsors)45Cosponsored
- Bars insurers from discriminating against living organ donors (H.R. 2923, 118th Congress · 225 cosponsors)46Cosponsored
- Restores fines for charging veterans unauthorized fees for help with VA claims (H.R. 1139, 118th Congress · 221 cosponsors)47Cosponsored
- Requires health plans to cover birth defect care for the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth or jaw (H.R. 3277, 119th Congress · 214 cosponsors)48Cosponsored
- Keeps paying military members and support staff during a shutdown in fiscal 2026 (H.R. 5401, 119th Congress · 210 cosponsors)49Cosponsored
- Raises Medicare physician fee schedule payments by 6.62% for April through December 2025 (H.R. 879, 119th Congress · 198 cosponsors)50Cosponsored
- Orders a study of Holocaust education in public schools across the states (H.R. 603, 118th Congress · 183 cosponsors)51Cosponsored
- Raises the tax credit for maintaining short line railroad track (H.R. 516, 119th Congress · 183 cosponsors)52Cosponsored
- Expands Medicare coverage to all services chiropractors provide (H.R. 1610, 118th Congress · 180 cosponsors)53Cosponsored
- Expands U.S.-Israel military cooperation on counter-drone and emerging technology (H.R. 1229, 119th Congress · 178 cosponsors)54Cosponsored
- Authorizes CIA payments to former Air America employees and survivors for 1950-1976 work (H.R. 2192, 119th Congress · 178 cosponsors)55Cosponsored
- Expands Medicare coverage to all services chiropractors are licensed to provide (H.R. 539, 119th Congress · 174 cosponsors)56Cosponsored
- Ties yearly Medicare physician payment increases to the Medicare Economic Index (H.R. 2474, 118th Congress · 172 cosponsors)57Cosponsored
- Requires FHA mortgage notices to compare costs with VA home loans (H.R. 4335, 118th Congress · 169 cosponsors)58Cosponsored
- Requires employer health plans to offer exceptions to step therapy drug rules (H.R. 5509, 119th Congress · 169 cosponsors)59Cosponsored
- Counts recovery from organ donation surgery as a serious health condition for family leave (H.R. 4582, 119th Congress · 168 cosponsors)60Cosponsored
- Bars insurers from discriminating against living organ donors (H.R. 4583, 119th Congress · 168 cosponsors)61Cosponsored
- Extends U.S.-Israel defense, energy and development cooperation programs (H.R. 3792, 118th Congress · 163 cosponsors)62Cosponsored
- Requires nursing homes and similar facilities to let essential caregivers see residents (H.R. 6766, 119th Congress · 160 cosponsors)63Cosponsored
- Doubles the amount of profit from selling a primary home that is exempt from tax (H.R. 1340, 119th Congress · 159 cosponsors)64Cosponsored
- Directs a Justice Department grant to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (H.R. 3381, 118th Congress · 156 cosponsors)65Cosponsored
- No-down-payment, federally insured mortgages for first responders and teachers (H.R. 2094, 119th Congress · 154 cosponsors)66Cosponsored
- Funds research on firefighter protective gear made without PFAS chemicals (H.R. 3184, 119th Congress · 150 cosponsors)67Cosponsored
- Bans betting on animal fights and allows private lawsuits over animal fighting (H.R. 3946, 119th Congress · 150 cosponsors)68Cosponsored
- Lets businesses deduct research costs right away instead of over five years (H.R. 2673, 118th Congress · 223 cosponsors)69Did not cosponsor
- Sends False Claims Act fraud recoveries to the Crime Victims Fund through 2029 (H.R. 8061, 118th Congress · 210 cosponsors)70Did not cosponsor
- Lets surviving military and veteran spouses keep benefits after remarrying (H.R. 1004, 119th Congress · 183 cosponsors)71Did not cosponsor
- Adds military spouses to a tax credit for employers who hire from certain groups (H.R. 1277, 118th Congress · 170 cosponsors)72Did not cosponsor
- Gives new-car dealers through 2025 to restock 2020-21 inventory without triggering tax (H.R. 700, 118th Congress · 169 cosponsors)73Did not cosponsor
- Expands and revises the low-income housing tax credit for affordable rentals (H.R. 2725, 119th Congress · 168 cosponsors)74Did not cosponsor
- Lets 529 education savings plans pay for aviation mechanic and pilot training (H.R. 1818, 118th Congress · 162 cosponsors)75Did not cosponsor
- Requires annual VA reports and studies on preventing veteran suicide (H.R. 4157, 118th Congress · 159 cosponsors)76Did not cosponsor
- Requires VA clinicians to certify a veteran's death within 48 hours (H.R. 4398, 119th Congress · 158 cosponsors)77Did not cosponsor
- Lets 529 education savings pay for job certifications and other credentials (H.R. 1477, 118th Congress · 150 cosponsors)78Did not cosponsor
§5Money
Why this matters: Campaigns report where their money comes from and how much they have left. Outside groups that spend on their own, without coordinating with the campaign, report that too.
Reported to the Federal Election Commission for the 2025–2026 election cycle, through October 14, 2026.79
| Raised | $3,652,280 |
|---|---|
| Spent | $3,416,404 |
| Cash on hand | $249,995 |
Where the money came from
Outside spending
Groups spending independently reported $539,292 supporting and $363,263 opposing Darren Soto this cycle, primary and general combined, in the 24- and 48-hour reports the law requires for larger expenditures, filed through October 25, 2026.80
| Group | Supporting | Opposing |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive Turnout Project | $354,024 | — |
| NO GOING BACK PAC INC. | — | $223,947 |
| CIVIC RENEWAL FUND INC. | — | $108,254 |
| 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East Federal Political Action Fund | $81,887 | — |
| National Association of Realtors Political Action Committee | $45,918 | — |
| SEIU COPE (Service Employees International Union Committee On Political Education) | $38,750 | — |
| MAGA INC. | — | $31,061 |
| AB PAC | $18,700 | — |
Smaller expenditures that appear only on a group's regular monthly or quarterly report aren't in these totals, so the full amounts can be somewhat higher. When a group amends a report, only its latest version is counted.
§6Financial disclosures
Why this matters: Federal candidates and members of Congress must report their assets, income, debts and outside jobs, and members must report stock trades. These filings show possible conflicts of interest.
- Amended financial disclosure report81filed Jun 2, 2026
- Annual financial disclosure report82filed May 8, 2026
- Annual financial disclosure report83filed May 9, 2025