With the 2026 midterms looming closer, Representative Darren Soto's (D-FL) 9th Congressional District seat is considered vulnerable, and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is accusing him of being "out of touch" and working against the interests of Florida farmers.
Rep. Soto's district, which includes Osceola and Polk Counties, is a major agricultural zone, with Osceola being Florida's biggest cattle producer and Polk being the second-largest citrus producer.
According to the NRCC, Rep. Soto has voted against these constituents' interests, even transferring out of the House Agriculture Committee in 2025.
For instance, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) contained numerous provisions for farmers totaling $66 billion in spending, including livestock biosecurity programs such as vaccination and parasite resistance, strengthening and modernizing the crop insurance program, and conservation efforts.
Soto voted against it.
Moreover, he is accused of siding with the rest of the Democratic Party to shut down the federal government in October, which delayed federal funding for farm programs and left many unable to seek federal assistance.
"Instead of fighting for Central Florida's farmers and helping the agriculture industry thrive, out-of-touch Darren Soto has tried to stand in the way of critical funding and progress," said NRCC spokeswoman Maureen O'Toole. "Floridians deserve a representative who's on their side."
Soto has been targeted by the NRCC several times in the past. Most recently, he was criticized for voting against the Laken Riley Act last year.
"When given the chance to keep Floridians safe, out-of-touch Democrat Darren Soto instead sided with the radical left and voted to let more innocent Americans like Laken Riley be murdered in cold blood," O'Toole said. "Voters will never forget this betrayal."
In November, Soto and Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) were both labeled "frauds" for not calling on Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), who was indicted on allegations of defrauding FEMA, to resign.
