Darren Soto turned 37 on Wednesday. but despite his age he is increasingly becoming the most prominent Hispanic on the Florida Democratic bench.
Soto put himself in the spotlight last week when he called out Pam Bondi on immigration. Saying Florida should not be part of the coalition of states suing over Barack Obamas executive action on amnesty, Soto challenged Bondi to drop it. Bondi hasnt responded but Soto scored a few points and got some attention for his action.
Of course, Soto also scored points back home. The Puerto Rican population in Central Florida continues to grow and is the main beneficiary at the state level. Despite going after Bondi, Sotos not exactly the most liberal Democrat in Tallahassee and he is probably as good as conservatives can hope for from his district. Soto has gotten the backing of business groups over the years and the Florida Chamber of Commerce endorsed him for an open Senate seat in 2012 over Republican lawyer Will McBride. The Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) threw their support behind Soto last time out. Soto doesnt always vote with Republicans but hes generally gotten high enough marks from AIF and the Florida Chamber to be an ally on economic and fiscal issues more often than not.
Soto is on the fast track to political prominence and thats helped by a distinct lack of Hispanic Democrats in Florida. Joe Garcia got turned out last year. Janet Cruz will be leading House Democrats after 2016 but few outside of Tallahassee and her Tampa district have any idea who she is.
So far, Soto has impressed with his rise in Florida politics. He had an inauspicious debut in 2006 as a Democratic House candidate by losing to fellow rising star Andy Gardiner. Less than a year later, Soto bounced back, winning a crowded Democratic primary running for the House seat John Quinones vacated. After winning the primary, Soto beat Republican Tony Suarez who was looking to get back to Tallahassee.
Since then, Soto has not had to sweat too much, easily winning re-election to the House in 2008 and 2010. McBride was supposed to be a tough out but Soto easily routed him to win an open Senate seat in 2012. He kept his Senate seat with ease last year, beating a no-party-affiliated candidate in November.
Like other Democrats before him in recent years, including Joe Abruzzo who has a similar record, Soto has found life much easier in the Senate than in the House. Soto, who studied law at George Washington University,was the vice chairman of the Judiciary Committee and the minority whip. Now he is the vice chairman of the Rules Committee. Back in the House, Sotos attempts to move up the leadership ladder failed, especially when he hitched his wagon to Joe Gibbons.
Democrats have a thin bench in Florida which gives Soto more room to make his mark. Its not unreasonable to see Soto moving up the ladder and playing a leading role for his party in the Florida Senate. That would put him in a strong position for the future. With a growing Puerto Rican population in Central Florida, Soto could be in good shape to head to Congress if redistricting goes his way. He also has the credentials to be a solid attorney general candidate, at least on paper, and he does have youth on his side.
Regardless of where he goes, Soto is well-positioned to be a factor in the Senate for years to come. And, with Garcia sidelined at least until 2016 and Cruz still waiting in the wings in the House, Soto has the change to expand his brand as the leading Hispanic Democrat in Florida.
Tallahassee political writer Jeff Henderson wrote this analysis exclusively for Sunshine State News.
