Redistricting Shifts Florida’s 9th Congressional District to GOP Advantage as Seven Primary Candidates Compete

NewsWK — Following state legislative redistricting signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida’s 9th Congressional District has undergone a dramatic partisan shift, drawing a crowded field of seven Republican candidates eager to flip the seat in the upcoming Aug. 18 primary election.

According to a report first published by Florida Phoenix, the newly redrawn district shifted from a D+4 lean to an R+8 Republican advantage under the Cook Partisan Voting Index. Data analysis indicates that while Democratic presidential candidates previously held an edge in the district, the updated boundaries—covering Osceola, Highlands, Indian River, Okeechobee, and Glades counties, along with portions of Orange and Polk—would have yielded a nearly 18-point conservative margin in recent national elections.

Incumbent Democratic Rep. Darren Soto, who has held the seat since 2017, is running unopposed in his party’s primary. Meanwhile, the GOP field features a diverse mix of military veterans, business owners, and agricultural leaders competing for the nomination.

The Republican Field

Army veteran and former Osceola County School Board member Thomas Chalifoux Jr., who challenged Soto in 2024, leads the field in campaign financing. Largely self-funded through a $3 million loan, Chalifoux reported $2.7 million in cash on hand at the end of June. His platform prioritizes government spending cuts, workforce development, affordable homeownership, and term limits.

Dan Green, a military veteran and former Trump administration defense official from Vero Beach, holds $878,848 on hand after loaning his campaign over $1 million. Green’s platform focuses on lowering property insurance rates, managing growth, and addressing housing and grocery affordability.

Orlando CPA Jorge Martinez, who fled Cuba as an eight-year-old, reported $756,631 on hand, including $500,000 in personal funds. Grounded in core conservative principles, Martinez is prioritizing tax reductions, balanced budgets, parental rights, and expanded school choice.

Cattle farmer Ben Butler of Okeechobee, a three-time DeSantis appointee to the South Florida Water Management District, holds endorsements from U.S. Reps. Greg Steube and Kat Cammack. Butler reported $282,437 on hand while advocating for border security, agricultural preservation, and term limits.

Former Marine F-18 fighter pilot Justin Story of St. Cloud emphasizes constitutional freedoms, Second Amendment rights, support for law enforcement, and fiscal discipline. “I’m running as a Republican for Florida’s 9th Congressional District to make sure our community, not the lobbyist, is represented in Washington, D.C.,” Story stated on his campaign website, as cited by Florida Phoenix.

The field also includes Marcus Carter, an Army veteran and investment adviser proposing term limits and bans on congressional stock trading, and Steve Rance, an Ocoee pastor and veteran emphasizing outsider leadership.