Dan Green wins Republican nomination for Florida’s 9th Congressional District
Dan Green, a Navy veteran and former Trump administration appointee, has secured the Republican nomination for Florida’s 9th Congressional District.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —
A tight race to become the GOP nominee for Florida’s 9th Congressional District was decided.
According to The Associated Press, Dan Green, a Navy veteran, former Trump administration appointee and Indian River County native, has won the Republican nomination for Florida’s 9th Congressional District.
According to the Florida supervisor of elections database, Green earned 14,740 votes (25.38%) while Ben Butler was second with 14,151 votes (24.37%) in a field that had seven candidates.
Dan Green, a Navy veteran and former Trump administration appointee, has secured the Republican nomination for Florida’s 9th Congressional District.
Green won the primary by 589 votes.
Green will face incumbent Darren Soto, a Democrat based in Orlando, in the general election Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Left to right: Florida 9th congressional district 2026 general election candidates Democrat Darren Soto and Republican Dan Green.
Prior to The Associated Press’s decision to call the race for Green on Thursday, he released the following statement a day after Tuesday’s primary election Wednesday, Aug. 19:
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“I am humbled by the trust voters have placed in me tonight and eager to earn the support of those who may have been with a different candidate in this primary. Congressman Darren Soto, has been a part of the problem in Washington, D.C. for far too long, but united, we can defeat him in November.
“Floridians deserve proven leaders in Washington who will protect our constitutional government and ensure access to the American Dream. Hard working families and small business owners can’t afford the gridlock in congress that keeps our nation in debt and our liberties at risk. It’s been 30 years since they last passed a budget, making it impossible to control spending. We must do better and we will do better!
“We have 76 days. The work starts right now.”
Okeechobee County Republican Party State Committeewoman Lasha Boree provided WPBF 25 News with the following comment:
“We had several strong candidates during the primary election, and I was particularly impressed by Dan Green’s military background and his experience working at the Pentagon. His leadership, service, and dedication are qualities that I believe will make him a valuable asset to our community.
“I look forward to working with Dan Green as we continue to advance Republican values and strengthen our communities throughout the district.”
National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson, R-N.C., released a statement following Green’s victory in the primary election.
“A decorated Navy veteran, former Trump administration appointee, and Indian River County native, Dan Green has what it takes to deliver for the Sunshine State in Washington. Voters are fired up to send him to Congress this November.
“Darren Soto has spent his career rubber-stamping his Party’s far-left agenda of higher taxes and weaker public safety, and Central Florida is ready for change.”
Congressional district lines were redrawn by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration.
Republican majorities in the Florida House of Representatives and Senate approved the congressional district map during a special session in April, and DeSantis signed the map into law in May.
A once Democratic-leaning district before the rare mid-decade redrawing of congressional district lines now leans in favor of Republicans in 2026.
Indian River County and Okeechobee County are now in the new 9th Congressional District that also includes Glades, Highlands and parts of Orange, Osceola and Polk counties.
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Indian River County previously was in the 8th Congressional District, while Okeechobee County was in the 18th Congressional District.