INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, the <a href="https://veronews.com/2026/09/03/democrat-darren-soto-wants-to-win-over-our-red-county/">five-term Democratic congressman</a> running in the newly redrawn 9th Congressional District covering Indian River County, spoke with local business owners, church officials, nonprofit leaders and others about issues impacting residents. "The good people of Indian River County deserve a representative that shows up, engages with local leaders and delivers solutions to help our community," Soto said. Soto, an incumbent, is running for reelection against Republican Dan Green for the U.S. House Florida District 9 congressional seat in the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election. "We are now ready to hit the ground running after this election. I hope to earn your votes." [caption id="attachment_237796" align="alignleft" width="250"]<img class="wp-image-237796" title="d2c72deb 9c0b 421b 989b 5566bb5600c9" src="https://veronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/d2c72deb-9c0b-421b-989b-5566bb5600c9.jpg" alt="d2c72deb 9c0b 421b 989b 5566bb5600c9" width="250" height="187" /> Congressman Darren Soto eats a raw oyster during a tour at Treasure Coast Shellfish. PHOTO BY NICK SAMUEL[/caption] Soto toured several small businesses and nonprofits in Vero Beach and Sebastian, visited churches in Wabasso and Gifford, while also visiting the Blue Cypress Lake this month and earlier this year. He spoke with residents about restoring the Indian River Lagoon, expanding access to stable jobs and the rising costs of healthcare and groceries. Soto's priorities include lowering costs and creating more jobs, protecting healthcare, supporting veterans, protecting social security, immigration reform and border security, conservation, affordable housing and more. If Soto wins, he will replace Rep. Mike Haridopolos, of Indian Harbour Beach, to represent Indian River County. <strong>Congressman tours Indian River County</strong> Soto made several stops to Indian River County this month where he toured the Vero Beach Water Treatment Plant, United Way of Indian River County's facility, American Icon Brewery restaurant and the Democratic Women's Club of Indian River County. The congressman also visited St. Matthew's Missionary Baptist Church in Wabasso and Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Gifford. "Churches are an important aspect of community life in Indian River County, and getting to spend the day hearing from churchgoers about what they’re concerned about is a critical part of my job," Soto said in a statement. "They told me that, among many things, high costs are impacting their lives. It’s critical that politicians in Washington take this concern seriously, and I’m committed to fighting for the well-being of Florida families." Carl Darrisaw, pastor at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, said Soto had a warm and authentic desire to hear from the people. "I felt a sense of commitment from him to push back on this present administration to ease our pain, and to press for jobs that bring a livable wage and a better quality of life for the residents of this community," Darrisaw said. "This was quite different from someone doing a whistle stop just to get votes. Thank you Congressman Soto for sharing this time with us, because in sharing with us, we felt heard, loved and appreciated." In Sebastian, Soto visited Treasure Coast Shellfish and Orchid Island Shellfish, which both utilize the Indian River Lagoon to operate oyster farms and clam nurseries. Soto took an educational tour of the oyster farm at Treasure Coast Shellfish and spoke with the owner and aquaculture biologist Nicolette Mariano. "Hands on, in-person meetings like this, especially out on a boat on our 7-acre farm, is where individuals truly get to understand how we farm, our struggles and what the aquaculture industry needs to continue to grow and thrive," Mariano said. Treasure Coast Shellfish is a fully private company, the only oyster farm in Indian River County and the only women-operated oyster farm on Florida's east coast, according to Mariano. The oysters are kept in four-bag floating cages that are flipped to mimic low tide on the Indian River Lagoon. "Our livestock is in the water," Mariano said. "We are affected by drought, heat, excessive rain, frost and anything else mother nature might throw at us. Although aquaculture is agriculture, many federal programs including emergency relief programs after natural disasters unfortunately exclude shellfish farmers from even meeting base requirements as we are not growing our livestock on land." <em>Video by Nick Samuel</em> [video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://veronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/05abcfb5-83f8-45dd-bd0d-56f6892db0a2.mp4"][/video] Soto spoke with Mariano about possible funding opportunities for Treasure Coast Shellfish. <span style="font-weight: 400;">"I am grateful for the opportunity to speak with small business owners whose fisheries rely on Indian River County lakes and lagoons," said Soto, who helped secure $9.4 million for Indian River Lagoon restoration in 2021 after the manatees experienced a surge in deaths linked to starvation because of seagrass loss. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">"Their concerns are similar to those I’ve heard from businesses all over the district—increased costs are making it difficult to operate businesses."</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span> Ed Mangano, founder and owner of Orchid Island Shellfish, said his business not only operates a clam nursery, but also plants clams and grows them out for the food industry. Mangano said the oysters and clams both restore the environment by filtering algae out of the water so sunlight can penetrate the seagrass. Mangano said Soto, who secured funding for water restoration in other parts of Florida including St. Cloud, is an "advocate for water quality." <span style="font-weight: 400;">"It is my priority to ensure these communities have a voice in Congress who will fight for their concerns and the environment that makes our community so special," Soto said. </span> [gallery ids="237791,237792,237793,237794,237795,237796,237797,237798,237799,237800,237801,237802,237803,237804,237805,237806,237809,237810,237811,237812,237813,237815,237816,237817,237818,237819,237820,237821,237822,237823"]