Dan Green of Vero Beach won the Aug. 18 Republican primary election for U.S. House of Representatives District 9, which now represents Indian River County, according to final but unofficial results.
Some mail-in votes in Orange County were still being counted just before midnight, according to floridaelectionwatch.gov, but Green released a victory statement that read in part:
“I am humbled by the trust voters have placed in me tonight and eager to earn the support of those who may have been with a different candidate in this primary. Our current Congressman, Darren Soto, has been a part of the problem in Washington, D.C. for far too long, but united, we can defeat him in November.”
Green received 25.39% of votes; Ben Butler, 24.38%; Thomas Chalifoux Jr., 20.32%; Jorge Martinez, 19.49%; Justin Story, 4.27%; Marcus Carter, 3.86%; Steve Rance, 2.29%.
Green advances to the Nov. 3 general election to challenge incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Darren Soto of Kissimmee. Soto was first elected to the two-year seat in 2017.
Congressional salaries start at $174,000 a year.
This will be the first time Indian River County is in District 9 since Florida’s Republican-led Legislature redrew congressional maps this year to give the GOP a four-seat advantage.
The district now stretches from Orlando, southwest to Yeehaw Junction and includes all of Indian River County. It also dips south into the cities of Kissimmee and St. Cloud, making it one of the largest districts by area in the state, including seven counties.
Indian River used to be part of District 8, which spanned from Titusville in Brevard County down the coast to Vero Beach.
Here’s a snapshot of the Republican candidates:
U.S. House of Representatives District 9
Olivia Franklin is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com, 317-627-8048 or follow her on X @Livvvvv_5.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: US House District 9 GOP primary winner advances to Nov. 3 election
Reporting by Olivia Franklin, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Olivia Franklin, Treasure Coast Newspapers | USA TODAY Network
