Kissimmee Republican Primary Selects Dan Green to Contest Florida 9th Congressional District

KISSIMMEE, FL — Businessman Dan Green won a crowded seven-candidate Republican primary on Tuesday evening in Florida's 9th Congressional District, securing the party nomination to challenge five-term Democratic Representative Darren Soto in November.

Multi-Candidate Primary Returns in Osceola and Orange

Returns certified by Osceola and Orange county election supervisors indicated Green captured 36.4 percent of the vote in a splintered field, outpacing his closest rival by more than 2,800 votes. Green ran on an economic platform emphasizing federal tax cuts for tourism and hospitality workers, regulatory relief for small agricultural growers, and expanded federal border enforcement.

Incumbent Representative Darren Soto was uncontested in the Democratic primary, enabling his campaign to preserve financial resources for the fall general campaign.

Central Florida Suburban and Hispanic Dynamics

Florida's 9th District, centered in Kissimmee and covering major portions of Osceola and southern Orange counties, features a rapidly growing Puerto Rican and Hispanic demographic. Soto has represented the district since 2017, focusing on federal funding for semiconductor manufacturing in NeoCity and federal disaster relief for Puerto Rico.

Addressing supporters in Kissimmee, Green pledged to mount an energetic general election campaign focused on reducing inflation, addressing housing affordability for service workers, and improving local road infrastructure.

Fall Campaign Launch

The Republican Party of Florida confirmed that the 9th District will be designated as a targeted opportunity district for joint statewide field investments leading up to November.