Darren Michael Soto is a democratic legislator, commercial and civil rights attorney, conservationist, and musician from Kissimmee, Florida, who is the representative in Congress for Florida’s Ninth Congressional District. As a member of the House Committee on Energy & Commerce, Congressman Soto has been a tireless advocate for advanced technology, transit, and the deployment of autonomous vehicles.

In 2020, Rep. Soto successfully authored and passed legislation to increase security in the deployment of 5G technology. In 2023, the Congressman founded the Vehicle Data Access Caucus alongside Congressman Carter (R-GA). In 2024, Congressman Soto helped secure nearly $30 million for the deployment of 30 new buses as part of the Low- or No-Emission Grant program. In 2024, Rep. Soto was the keynote speaker at the Bipartisan Policy Institute’s event “Driving Equity: The Benefits and Impact of AVs on Underserved Communities.” Then, during a June 2025 Energy & Commerce hearing, he emphasized how Central Florida has been key to autonomous vehicle innovation, including LiDAR development.

Congressman Soto received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Rutgers University and his Juris Doctor from George Washington University.