Soto, Darren, 1978-

Darren Michael Soto (born February 25, 1978) is an American attorney and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he has served as the U.S. Representative for Florida's 9th district since 2017.

Born in Ringwood, New Jersey, he earned a B.A. from Rutgers University and a J.D. from George Washington University Law School before opening his own law practice in Central Florida where he practiced family law, civil litigation, and real estate law. In 2006, he was appointed to serve on the Orlando Civil Service Board and as the Treasurer and the Vice President of Communications for the Orange County Young Democrats. In 2006, Soto ran for the Florida House of Representatives from the 40th district, unsuccessfully challenging incumbent Andy Gardiner. In April 2007, he emerged victorious from a crowded Democratic primary in a special election to replace John Quinones, who had resigned to run for the Osceola County Commission. In 2012, Florida Senate districts were redrawn, and Soto opted not to run for re-election in the House but instead to run for the newly created 14th district.

In 2016, Soto won the Democratic nomination and general election to succeed Representative Alan Grayson, who had stepped down to run in the primary for U.S. Senate in Florida's 9th congressional district. In his first term in Congress, he passed the most laws of any Freshmen Member in the House. Now in his third term, Soto has established himself as a strong advocate for the environment, hurricane relief, emerging technologies and the fight to protect the health and safety of his constituents. He currently serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Natural Resources. Additionally, Soto is the Chair of the Future Forum Caucus, Whip of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and a proud member of the New Democrat Coalition, Problem Solvers Caucus, Congressional Progressive Caucus and LGBT Equality Caucus.