Dan Green of Vero Beach won the Aug. 18 Republican primary election for U.S. House of Representatives District 9, which now represents Indian River County, according to final but unofficial results.
Some mail-in votes in Orange County were still being counted just before midnight, according to floridaelectionwatch.gov, but Green released a victory statement that read in part:
"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. Our current 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."
Green received 25.39% of votes; Ben Butler, 24.38%; Thomas Chalifoux Jr., 20.32%; Jorge Martinez, 19.49%; Justin Story, 4.27%; Marcus Carter, 3.86%; Steve Rance, 2.29%.
Green advances to the Nov. 3 general election to challenge incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Darren Soto of Kissimmee. Soto was first elected to the two-year seat in 2017.
Congressional salaries start at $174,000 a year.
This will be the first time Indian River County is in District 9 since Florida's Republican-led Legislature redrew congressional maps this year to give the GOP a four-seat advantage.
The district now stretches from Orlando, southwest to Yeehaw Junction and includes all of Indian River County. It also dips south into the cities of Kissimmee and St. Cloud, making it one of the largest districts by area in the state, including seven counties.
Indian River used to be part of District 8, which spanned from Titusville in Brevard County down the coast to Vero Beach.
Here's a snapshot of the Republican candidates:
TCPalm candidate questionnaire: See what U.S. House District 9 GOP candidates said
Ben Butler, 47, of Lorida, is a cattle rancher and former dairy farmer. His top priorities are food security and agriculture; and water resources and infrastructure.
Marcus Carter, 42, of Kissimmee, is retired from the Army and was a financial adviser before launching his own investment company. His top priorities are fighting for government accountability and term limits; and the mental health epidemic.
Thomas Chalifoux Jr., 78, of Orlando, is retired from the Army and is president of A+ Safe and Secure Storage, Inc. His top priorities were stopping waste and fraud; making life affordable again; and reward working again.
Dan Green, 50, of Vero Beach, most recently served as a research fellow for defense analysis at The Heritage Foundation. His top priorities were making America affordable again; reestablishing constitutional government; and restoring peace through strength.
Jorge Martinez, 61, of Orlando, is a retired CPA/corporate tax accountant who owned his own firm for over 30 years. His top priorities were expanding education opportunities; safeguarding the Constitution from legislative overreach; and providing a framework to limit the growth of government.
Steve Rance, 59, of Ocoee, is a small business professional and Life Group Pastor at First Baptist Church of Orlando. His top priorities were securing the border and national security; stopping inflation and wasteful spending; and protecting parental rights and education.
Justin Story, 47, of St. Cloud, is an active duty Marine. His top priorities were strengthening national security; securing the border and reforming immigration; and tackling the national debt and supporting Florida families.
Election results: Who won Martin, Indian River, St. Lucie county elections? See results
Olivia Franklin is TCPalm's trending reporter. You can contact her at [email protected], 317-627-8048 or follow her on X @Livvvvv_5.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: US House District 9 GOP primary winner advances to Nov. 3 election