Darren Soto has been elected to Florida's 9th Congressional District, making him the first Puerto Rican from Florida in Congress.
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Soto defeated Wayne Liebnitzky, who ran for the Republican party. Soto received about 58 percent of the vote and Liebnitzky received about 42 percent — 189,735 to 140,307 respectively. Almost four-in-10 people in the district are Puerto Rican.
Soto previously held a seat in the state legislature representing the 14th district.
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According to NBC News reporter Kerry Sanders, salsa music was playing at a watch party in his heavily Hispanic district and where he celebrated with his supporters.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee congratulated Soto for his historic win in a statement.
"While serving as a state legislator, Soto made his mark as a progressive leader by working on initiatives to improve education and healthcare, and protect our environment," the statement reads. "In Congress, Darren will continue to be a champion for Florida’s working families. I greatly look forward to working with Darren to address the issues facing Florida and the country.”
