Florida's 9th congressional district

Florida's 9th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida, represented by Darren Soto of the Democratic Party. The district includes parts of Osceola County and Polk County, as well as the Kissimmee area. It borders the 8th congressional district of Florida to the north, the 15th congressional district of Florida to the west, and the 18th congressional district of Florida to the east, and is close to the Walt Disney World resort. The district is also near the Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Geography

The district is located in central Florida, and includes parts of Osceola County and Polk County. It borders Lake Tohopekaliga to the north and Lake Okeechobee to the south, and is near the Everglades and the Kissimmee River. The district is also close to the cities of Orlando and Lakeland, and is near the University of Central Florida and the Florida Southern College. The district's geography is characterized by its many lakes and wetlands, including Lake Kissimmee and the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, and is home to the Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area and the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. The district is also near the Florida Turnpike and the U.S. Route 192.

History

The district was created in 1963, following the 1960 United States Census, and was first represented by Don Fuqua of the Democratic Party. The district has been represented by several notable members of Congress, including Bill Nelson, who later became a U.S. Senator and the Administrator of NASA, and Ric Keller, who served as the Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law. The district has also been represented by Michael Bilirakis, who served as the Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials, and Gus Bilirakis, who serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The district is also near the Patrick Air Force Base and the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Election Results

In the 2020 United States House of Representatives elections, Darren Soto of the Democratic Party defeated Bill Olson of the Republican Party with 56% of the vote. In the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections, Darren Soto defeated Wayne Liebnitzky with 58% of the vote. The district has trended Democratic in recent years, with Barack Obama winning the district in the 2012 United States presidential election with 57% of the vote, and Hillary Clinton winning the district in the 2016 United States presidential election with 55% of the vote. The district is also near the University of Miami and the Florida International University.

List of Representatives

The district has been represented by the following members of Congress: * Don Fuqua (1963-1987) * Michael Bilirakis (1987-2007) * Gus Bilirakis (2007-2013) * Alan Grayson (2013-2017) * Darren Soto (2017-present) The district is also near the Tampa area, which is home to the University of South Florida and the University of Tampa. The district is also close to the St. Petersburg area, which is home to the St. Petersburg College and the Eckerd College.

Demographics

The district has a diverse population, with a large Hispanic population, particularly in the Kissimmee area. The district is also home to a large African American population, particularly in the Orlando area. The district's economy is driven by the tourism industry, with many residents employed in the hospitality and service sectors. The district is also home to a large number of veterans, with many residents employed at the Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The district is also near the Walt Disney World resort, which is one of the largest employers in the state of Florida. The district is also close to the Universal Orlando Resort and the SeaWorld Orlando theme park. Category:Congressional districts of Florida