Redistricting approved earlier in 2026 by Florida's Republican-led legislature and Governor Ron DeSantis has shifted the 9th Congressional District from a Democratic-leaning seat to one rated R+8 on the Cook Partisan Voter Index, incorporating more Republican voters across additional counties and diluting prior Hispanic voter concentrations. This structural change has elevated Republican nominee Dan Green, a Navy veteran and former Trump administration appointee who won a crowded August primary, to favored status against five-term Democratic incumbent Darren Soto. Recent polling averages and forecasts reflect the altered electorate, with voter registration now showing a Republican edge and race ratings from outlets like Cook and Sabato classifying the contest as Lean or Likely Republican. The November 3 general election remains weeks away, leaving room for late campaign dynamics to influence final margins.