Rep. Soto announces re-election campaign
He vows to continue helping Puerto Rico
KISSIMMEE — Freshman U.S. Rep. Darren Soto launched his re-election bid Thursday, vowing to continue his fight for preserving the environment and aiding Puerto Rico’s hurricane recovery.
The Celebration Democrat announced his candidacy, two days after liberal firebrand and former congressman Alan Grayson said he is mounting a political comeback against Soto in what is expected to be a fierce primary battle. The district encompasses Osceola and parts of Orange and Polk counties.
“During my nine successful elections, I’ve always run a positive, inspiring campaign,” said Soto, who previously served in the Florida House and Senate. “We need to put a check on [President Donald Trump] and we need a Democratic majority. But to lead, we need people who are responsible, who can communicate and
unify our nation.”
Elected to Congress in 2016, Soto is faced with a familiar foe in Grayson. Soto defeated Grayson’s wife, Dr. Dena Grayson, and Susannah Randolph for the Democratic nomination in 2016, then went on to win the general election to become Florida’s first congressman of Puerto Rican descent.
In his speech on the steps of the Osceola County Courthouse, Soto listed accomplishments including aiding in disaster relief for Central Florida and Puerto Rico after hurricanes Irma and Maria as well as leading the fight against offshore oil drilling.
“We have to stop it — we know what happened at the BP oil spill,” Soto said. “[Drilling] will be devastating to our state.”
He also said he helped pass a bill through the House of Representatives to protect the Kissimmee River and hopes to see it passed through the Senate.
If elected to a second two-year term, he said he would try to help clean up the northern Everglades and continue his work on Puerto Rico’s recovery.
Maria Baez Claudio, who was among about two dozen supporters on hand for Soto’s announcement, said she had trouble gaining assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to find living arrangements when she arrived from Puerto Rico after the hurricane. She said she is backing Soto because “his office and him have been fighting to get extensions until we’re able to get more permanent housing.”
“He’s done everything in his power to help us,” she said.
But not everybody at the rally was supportive of the candidate. A pair of protesters hoisted laminated signs behind the crowd facing news cameras that called the incumbent an “NRA Sellout” who was willing to cut Social Security.
The signs were quickly pulled down, and the protesters were ushered away by campaign supporters.
Earlier this week, Grayson, who previously served six years in the U.S. House and made an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate in 2016, said he was “disturbed” by Soto’s record on guns, which included an A rating from the National Rifle Association.
However, that grade dipped to a D in later years. In a 2016 interview, Soto told the Sentinel his views “evolved” while he was in Tallahassee.
Grayson, 60, said he would support a cost-ofliving increase for Social Security and dinged Soto, 40, for saying in 2016 that he was open to phasing out or eliminating benefits to “assure longer-term solvency.”
However, Soto responded by pointing out, among other things, that he cosponsored legislation to boost benefits and cost-ofliving adjustments.
Sheri Morton, a past Grayson voter and campaign volunteer, said she is impressed by Soto’s energy and visibility in the district.
The 70-year-old retiree wore a green button with Soto’s name on it and toted a sign in support of him at the announcement.
“He’s by far the most effective and most present congressperson we’ve ever had,” said Morton, who lives in the Kissimmee area. “Honestly, as someone who has lived in our county with Grayson as our congressperson and Darren Soto as our congressperson, I feel strongly that Darren Soto is the way to go.”