Democratic incumbent projected to retain Florida House seat after close race

Democratic Representative Darren Soto is projected to win another term in Florida's 9th Congressional District after a closely contested race against Republican Dan Green. The result remains subject to official certification, scheduled for November 17.

Soto received about 50.26 percent of the vote. State officials said the margin was just above Florida's half-percentage-point threshold for an automatic recount, meaning one would not be required. The contest followed a redrawing of district boundaries by the state legislature with the backing of Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, a change aimed at making Soto's seat more vulnerable.

First elected in 2016, Soto became the first Puerto Rican from Florida to serve in Congress. His district was considered among the Democratic seats most at risk of changing hands in the midterm elections. The projected victory comes as Democrats have secured control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, but the district's final result will still pass through the state's certification process.