Mr. Speaker, it has been nearly 10 years ago this Friday that our happy little town of Orlando was forever changed. I remember getting text messages at 4 a.m., 5 a.m. on June 12, 2016, and wondering what people could possibly be reaching out to me about that early in the morning. I received 10, 12, 15 different texts and calls. I remember waking up around 4:30 a.m. and realizing that our world had changed, that our happy little town of Orlando was the site of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history at that time.
2026 MidtermsToss-Up SeatD+13D shift +6$933K raised
Darren Soto
Representative · Florida · Democrat
Darren Soto
House Floor
Recent comments in the House
Mr. Speaker, I want to start with a little history lesson. Back in 2013, this was my bill. I wrote this bill. I thought it was a pretty good name, the Sunshine Protection Act, back in the day. It was for good reason. I had gotten to the State senate. In the State House, you can only file a certain number of bills, but once we got to the State senate, I really got jelling on coming up with ideas that would help our State. Up until that point, every idea on trying to stop the clock change was going to standard time. No one likes standard time.
Biography
Darren Soto, a former environmental attorney, was first elected to represent Florida’s 9th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016. He focuses on expanding access to affordable healthcare, protecting the environment, and supporting Puerto Rican communities in Central Florida. Soto authored the bipartisan Hurricane Red Tape Relief Act and serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he advances clean energy initiatives. He is known for a collaborative approach, working across the aisle to deliver practical solutions for his diverse district.
Education
- J.D., George Washington University Law School, Washington, DC2004
- B.A. in Economics, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ2000
Professional History
U.S. Representative
2017–PresentRepresented Florida's 9th congressional district for 5 terms.
Member, Florida Senate
2012–16, (deputy minority whip, 2012–14)
Member, Florida House of Representatives
2007–12Founder, Darren Soto Law Firm
Member, Orlando Civil Service Board
Communications Vice President/treasurer, Orange County Young Democrats
Policy Focus
Immigration12%
Science, Technology, Communications10%
Public Lands and Natural Resources9%
Government Operations and Politics7%
Notable Legislation
Key legislative actions from Darren Soto's record in Congress.
Hurricane Disaster Aid
Helped secure federal disaster relief funding for Central Florida after Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
Puerto Rico Recovery
Advocated for increased disaster recovery assistance and Medicaid funding for Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.
Lake Okeechobee Restoration
Supported funding and legislation for the restoration and protection of Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades.
Space Industry Support
Promoted federal investment in Florida’s space industry, including support for NASA and commercial spaceflight initiatives.
Committee Assignments
View details →- House Committee on Energy and Commerce
- House Committee on Natural Resources
Rep. Darren Soto FAQ
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