State Senator Darren Soto if flaunting what his campaign calls “an enormous grassroots organization” that helped him collect over 2,400 petitions in an effort to qualify for the ballot as a candidate for Florida’s 9th Congressional District. According to Soto’s campaign, the majority of petitions were signed by voters within the 9th district, with 769 from Orange County, 386 from Polk County, and 285 from Osceola County. Candidates may qualify for the ballot by paying $10,440 or collecting 2,298 valid petitions from Florida voters.
“I’m proud to have been voted into office by Central Florida voters six times over the past nine years,” said Sen. Darren Soto. “I have knocked on thousands of doors and talked with the voters face to face about their concerns. I’m proud to have assembled a top-notch campaign team who has helped organize a strong grassroots campaign where we’re taking our message of bringing jobs to the district and building up the middle class directly to the neighborhoods and giving people an opportunity to discuss what matters to them most.”
Darren Soto is putting together an aggressive congressional campaign, which appears to mirror his previous commanding victories during his career. He won his past four elections with a 30% or greater margin of victory, and two of those races were won by 50%. Soto’s campaign notes he currently leads his Democratic primary opponents in the polls by 19% and has outraised all of his opponents.
Soto is facing off against Susannah Randolph, Dr. Dena Minning, Valleri Crabtree and Ricardo Rangel in the Democratic primary for Florida’s 9th Congressional District.
Soto has also received support from the majority of unions, including: the Painters (IUPAT), Electricians (IBEW), the Ironworkers (IPAL), Machinists (IAM), Locomotive Engineers (BLET), Firefighters (IAFF), and the sheet metal, air, rail, and transportation workers (SMART). Darren also has support from more Members of Congress than any of his opponents: Congressmen Xavier Becerra, Tony Cárdenas, Ruben Gallego, Luis Gutiérrez, Alcee Hastings, Jared Polis, Pedro Pierluisi, José E. Serrano, Filemon Vela, and Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez have all endorsed him.
With the petitions to qualify, Soto’s latest endorsement came directly from the voters who will decide the election.
