Vero Beach and Indian River County residents are preparing to head to the polls this Tuesday for a closely watched statewide primary election. The local spotlight is fixed on the newly redrawn 9th Congressional District, where a crowded field of seven Republican candidates is battling for the chance to unseat incumbent Democrat Darren Soto in the November general election.
Spearheaded earlier this year by Governor Ron DeSantis and the GOP-controlled state legislature, the redrawn congressional map significantly shifts the regional political landscape. Previously comprising urban, reliably Democratic enclaves in the Orlando metro area, the new 9th District now encompasses conservative strongholds, including Indian River County, Okeechobee, and rural portions of Polk County. Historically, Republicans secure at least 60 percent of the vote in Indian River County, making this redrawn district a prime target for the GOP.
The highly respected Cook Political Report has shifted its rating for the 9th District from solidly Democratic to ‘likely Republican,’ forecasting an uphill battle for incumbent Darren Soto. Based on past voting records within the new boundaries, the district is now projected to have a Republican margin of eight percentage points.
This enticing conservative tilt has drawn significant interest. Two major contenders lead the pack in both fundraising and name recognition:
- Dan Green: A 50-year-old Vero Beach resident and former Pentagon official who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development during President Donald Trump’s first term. Green has raised $1.14 million and secured key endorsements from figures like Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan and current 8th District Representative Mike Haridopolos. If successful, Green would become the first Vero Beach resident to represent the city in Congress, though local political observers note his political roots are largely tied to Washington, D.C., rather than local civic organizations.
- Thomas E. Chalifoux Jr.: A 78-year-old retired Army colonel and former Osceola County School Board Chair from the Orlando area. Chalifoux currently leads the field in financial backing with a reported $2.3 million campaign war chest.
The ballot also features five other notable candidates vying for the nomination, many of whom have pledged loyalty to former President Trump’s policies:
- Steve Rance: A 59-year-old Air Force veteran from Ocoee advocating against the censorship of conservative voices, reporting $136,000 in funds raised.
- Justin Story: A retired Marine from St. Cloud focusing on faith, family, and gun ownership, with $42,000 raised.
- Marcus Carter: A Kissimmee local running a grassroots campaign endorsed by the American Patriot Executive Committee, with $20,000 raised.
- Jorge Martinez: An Orlando-based Cuban exile and accounting firm owner.
- Ben Butler: A Central Florida cattle farmer and DeSantis appointee to the South Florida Water Management District board.
Vero Beach has a dynamic political history, having been part of seven different congressional districts over the last 50 years. The city has not been represented by a Democrat in over three decades, dating back to when Jim Bacchus held the 15th District seat from 1993 to 1995. Since then, local representation has been firmly held by Republicans, including David Weldon, Bill Posey, and Mike Haridopolos.
Awaiting the winner of Tuesday’s Republican primary is 48-year-old Darren Soto, a five-term Democratic representative of Puerto Rican descent with degrees from Rutgers and George Washington University. While the new map favors conservative candidates, local Indian River County Democratic leader Bill Evans believes Soto retains a strong chance of reelection. Soto boasts a solid track record of securing federal funding, such as traffic improvements along Orlando’s I-4 corridor, and has already begun engaging with Vero Beach voters. Furthermore, Soto’s past performance indicates broad appeal; during the election two years ago, he ran nine percentage points ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris within the region.
Beyond the congressional race, Tuesday’s primary will also prove critical as voters select statewide candidates for governor, Agriculture Secretary, State Auditor, and the challenger to incumbent Republican Senator Ashley Moody. Indian River County voters are poised to play a crucial role in reshaping Florida’s political future.
