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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Caucuses/Former Committees

Former Member, Agriculture Committee, United States House of Representatives

Former Member, Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives

Former Member, Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives

Former Member, Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Finance and Tax Committee, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives

Former Member, Joint Committee on Public Counsel Oversight, Florida State Legislature

Former Member, Judiciary Committee, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Nutrition Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives

Former Member, Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives

Former Member, Public Counsel Oversight Committee, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Rules Committee, Florida State Senate

Education

  • JD, George Washington University, 2000-2004
  • BA, Economics, Rutgers University, 1996-2000

Professional Experience

  • JD, George Washington University, 2000-2004
  • BA, Economics, Rutgers University, 1996-2000
  • Partner/President, D. Soto Law Offices, Public Advocate, 2005
  • Summer Associate, L.A. Gonzalez Law Offices, Public Advocate, 2002-2004
  • Financial Analyst, Prudential Insurance Financing, 1998-2001

Political Experience

  • JD, George Washington University, 2000-2004
  • BA, Economics, Rutgers University, 1996-2000
  • Partner/President, D. Soto Law Offices, Public Advocate, 2005
  • Summer Associate, L.A. Gonzalez Law Offices, Public Advocate, 2002-2004
  • Financial Analyst, Prudential Insurance Financing, 1998-2001
  • Representative, United States House of Representatives, District 9, 2017-present
  • Candidate, United States House of Representatives, Florida, District 9, 2016, 2018, 2020
  • Senator, Florida State Senate, District 14, 2012-2016
  • Deputy Minority Whip, Florida State Senate, 2012-2014
  • Representative, Florida State House of Representatives, 2007-2012
  • Candidate, Florida State House of Representatives, District 40, 2006

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Member, Agriculture Committee, United States House of Representatives

Former Member, Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives

Former Member, Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives

Former Member, Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Finance and Tax Committee, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives

Former Member, Joint Committee on Public Counsel Oversight, Florida State Legislature

Former Member, Judiciary Committee, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Nutrition Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives

Former Member, Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, United States House of Representatives

Former Member, Public Counsel Oversight Committee, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Rules Committee, Florida State Senate

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Committee on Energy and Commerce

Member, Natural Resources Committee

Member, Subcommittee on Communications and Technology

Member, Subcommittee on Consumer Protection & Commerce

Member, Subcommittee on Environment & Climate Change

Member, Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples of the United States

Member, Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • JD, George Washington University, 2000-2004
  • BA, Economics, Rutgers University, 1996-2000
  • Partner/President, D. Soto Law Offices, Public Advocate, 2005
  • Summer Associate, L.A. Gonzalez Law Offices, Public Advocate, 2002-2004
  • Financial Analyst, Prudential Insurance Financing, 1998-2001
  • Representative, United States House of Representatives, District 9, 2017-present
  • Candidate, United States House of Representatives, Florida, District 9, 2016, 2018, 2020
  • Senator, Florida State Senate, District 14, 2012-2016
  • Deputy Minority Whip, Florida State Senate, 2012-2014
  • Representative, Florida State House of Representatives, 2007-2012
  • Candidate, Florida State House of Representatives, District 40, 2006
  • Member, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orland, 2006-present
  • Member, Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, present
  • Band Member, Orange Creek Riders
  • Member, Orlando Young Democrats Club
  • Host, "Rock and Politics"
  • Democratic Caucus Rules Chair, Florida State Senate, 2014-2016
  • Vice President, Communications, Orange County Young Democrats, 2007
  • Treasurer, Orange County Democrats, 2007
  • Member, Civil Service Commission, City of Orlando, 2006

Other Info

  • Louis Soto

  • The former Treasurer for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for Metro Orlando

Hobbies or Special Talents:

Music, pastels, creative writing, hiking, and canoeing

  • Jean Soto

Priority Issues:

In Congress, I will protect Social Security and Medicare for our seniors, work to pass comprehensive immigration reform, and support the Affordable Care Act, which provides nearly 1.6 million Floridians with health care. I will continue to support the environment by pushing for federal investments to restore the Everglades. I recognize our close relationship with Puerto Rico and will push for equal treatment for Puerto Ricans and stop cuts to Medicare there.

Spouse's Occupation:

His wife, Amanda, works as a math coach in the Orange County public schools.

Policy Positions

2021

Abortion

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

Budget

1. In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes

2. Do you support expanding federal funding to support entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare?
- Yes

Campaign Finance

1. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

Crime

1. Do you support the protection of government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct?
- No

Defense

Do you support increasing defense spending?
- Unknown Position

Economy

1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

3. Do you support providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19?
- Yes

Education

1. Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
- Unknown Position

Energy and Environment

1. Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

Guns

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

Health Care

1. Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- No

2. Do you support requiring businesses to provide paid medical leave during public health crises, such as COVID-19?
- Yes

Immigration

1. Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
- No

2. Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- No

National Security

1. Should the United States use military force to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a weapon of mass destruction (for example: nuclear, biological, chemical)?
- No

2. Do you support reducing military intervention in Middle East conflicts?
- Yes

Trade

Do you generally support removing barriers to international trade (for example: tariffs, quotas, etc.)?
- Yes

Florida State Legislative Election 2006 National Political Awareness Test

Abortion

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding abortion.

1. Abortions should always be illegal.
- No Answer

2. Abortions should always be legal.
- No Answer

3. Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
- No Answer

4. Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
- X

5. Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
- X

6. Prohibit public funding of abortions and to organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
- No Answer

7. Require clinics to give parental notification before performing abortions on minors.
- No Answer

Budget and Tax

State Budget: Indicate the funding levels (#1-6) you will support for the following general categories. Select one level per category.State Taxes: Indicate the tax levels (#1-6) you will support. Select one level per tax.

1. Education (Higher)
- Slightly Increase

2. Education (K-12)
- Greatly Increase

3. Environment
- Slightly Increase

4. Emergency preparedness
- Maintain Status

5. Health care
- Maintain Status

6. Law enforcement
- Maintain Status

7. Transportation and Highway infrastructure
- Maintain Status

8. Welfare
- Maintain Status

9. Alcohol taxes
- Slightly Increase

10. Capital gains taxes
- Maintain Status

11. Cigarette taxes
- Maintain Status

12. Corporate taxes
- Maintain Status

13. Gasoline taxes
- Maintain Status

14. Property taxes
- Maintain Status

15. Sales taxes
- Maintain Status

16. Vehicle taxes
- Slightly Increase

17. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

18. Should the state sales taxes be extended to Internet sales?
- Yes

19. Should accounts such as a "rainy day" fund be used to balance the state budget?
- Yes

20. Should fee increases be used to balance the state budget?
- Yes

21. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance and Governmental Reform

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.c) Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative candidates?

1. Do you support the current limit of terms for Florida governors?
- Yes

2. Do you support the current limit of terms for Florida state senators and representatives?
- Yes

3. Individual
- Yes

4. PAC
- No

5. Corporate
- No

6. Political Parties
- No

7. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

8. Do you support the power to amend the state constitution through ballot initiative petitions?
- Undecided

9. Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
- Yes

10. Do you support adopting statewide standards for counting, verifying and ensuring accuracy of votes?
- Yes

11. Do you support prohibiting media exit polling of voters until all polling locations in Florida are closed?
- Yes

12. Should Florida recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
- Undecided

13. I support statutory initiatives i) should be decided by voters
- I would support a pooling system resembling the Federal Flood Insurance Fund as supported by FL Senator Rod Smith

Crime

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding crime.

1. Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and hiring of additional prison staff.
- No Answer

2. Support the death penalty in Florida.
- X

3. Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
- X

4. End parole for repeat violent offenders.
- X

5. Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- X

6. Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
- X

7. Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
- No Answer

8. Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
- No Answer

9. Require that crimes based on race, ethnic background, religious belief, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation be prosecuted as hate crimes.
- X

10. Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
- X

11. Strengthen sex-offender laws.
- X

12. Support the restriction of the sale of products used to make methamphetamine (e.g. tablets containing pseudophedrine, ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine).
- X

Education

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

1. Support national standards and testing of public school students.
- No Answer

2. Support a constitutional amendment to provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any public school.
- X

3. Support a constitutional amendment to provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.
- No Answer

4. Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
- X

5. Increase funds for hiring additional teachers.
- X

6. Require that 65 percent of Florida's education funding be spent in the classroom.
- X

7. Support teacher testing and reward with merit pay.
- X

8. Endorse voluntary prayer in public schools.
- No Answer

9. Support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams.
- No Answer

10. Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
- X

11. Increase funding for Head Start programs.
- No Answer

12. Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
- X

13. Relax class-size limits for Florida public schools.
- No Answer

14. Support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods.
- X

15. Support abstinence-only sexual education programs.
- No Answer

16. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Employment and Affirmative Action

Employment: Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity or gender be taken into account in state agencies' decisions on:

1. Increase funding for state job-training programs that retrain displaced workers and teach skills needed in today's job market.
- X

2. Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
- No Answer

3. Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
- X

4. Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for children in low-income working families.
- X

5. Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families.
- X

6. Support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Florida's anti-discrimination laws.
- X

7. Increase the state minimum wage.
- X

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

9. Public employment
- Yes

10. State college and university admissions
- Yes

11. State contracting
- Yes

Environment & Energy

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

1. Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.
- X

2. Support increased production of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, and oil).
- No Answer

3. Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused, or abandoned.
- X

4. Increase funding for improvements to Florida's power generating and transmission facilities.
- X

5. Support funding for open space preservation.
- X

6. Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law.
- X

Gun

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding guns.

1. Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

2. Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

3. Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

4. Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
- No Answer

5. Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
- No Answer

6. Require a license for gun possession.
- X

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health.

1. Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
- X

2. Transfer current Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
- No Answer

3. Limit the amount of punitive damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
- No Answer

4. Support patients' right to sue their HMOs.
- X

5. Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
- No Answer

6. Legalize physician assisted suicide in Florida.
- X

7. Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
- No Answer

8. Other or expanded principles
- X

Welfare and Poverty

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare.

1. Support increased work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients.
- X

2. Increase funding for employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
- X

3. Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
- X

4. Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
- X

5. Use federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds to extend health and child care subsidies to the working poor.
- No Answer

6. Support marriage promotion programs for welfare recipients.
- X

7. Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
- No Answer

8. Remove the cap on affordable housing spending in Florida.
- X

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

2019

Abortion

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

Budget

1. In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- No

2. In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
- Yes

Campaign Finance

1. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Unknown Position

Economy

1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

Education

1. Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
- Unknown Position

Energy & Environment

1. Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

Guns

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

Health Care

1. Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- No

Immigration

1. Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
- No

2. Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- No

Marijuana

Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- Yes

National Security

1. Should the United States use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a nuclear weapon?
- No

2. Do you support increased American intervention in Middle Eastern conflicts beyond air support?
- Unknown Position

Congress Bills
Endorsements
Boricua Vota
Giffords PAC
San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz
Speeches
Events

2020

Oct. 8
Coronavirus Crisis Town Hall

Thur 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EDT

Sep. 8
Immigration Town Hall

Tue 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM EDT

Aug. 27
U.S. Service Academy Day

Thur 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM EDT