U.S. Representative Darren Soto to Receive Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2025

CONTACT:
Media Team, [email protected]

Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service

his contributions to the Latino community and the country at the

NALEO Edward R. Roybal Legacy Celebration taking place on Wednesday, October 22

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials

(NALEO) will present the 2025 Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service to the United States Representative from Florida, the Honorable Darren Soto, at the organization's annual NALEO Edward R. Roybal Legacy Celebration taking place Wednesday, October 22, in Washington, D.C.

A legislator, commercial and civil rights attorney, conservationist, and musician from Kissimmee, Florida, the Honorable Darren Soto represents Florida's Ninth Congressional District. He is of Puerto Rican and Italian descent. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in economics from Rutgers University in 2000 and his Juris Doctor from George Washington University in 2004.

After being admitted to The Florida Bar in 2005, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2007 in a special election. In 2012, he ran for the newly created 14^th district, which included predominantly Latino areas of Orange, Osceola, and Polk Counties.

Over the course of his career, Soto has championed major jobs, infrastructure, and environmental projects for Central Florida, space flight, clean energy, veterans' benefits, Puerto Rico disaster recovery, and more. He serves on both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Natural Resources Committee, where he focuses on jobs, technology, healthcare, and protecting Florida's environment.

"Since its inception in 1996, the Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service has honored individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to public service and advocacy for the Latino community," said NALEO CEO Erica Bernal-Martinez. "This year, NALEO is proud to present the 2025 Edward R. Roybal Award to U.S. Representative, the Honorable Darren Soto, in recognition of his exemplary public service."

The award honors the enduring legacy of the organization's esteemed founder and President Emeritus, the late Congressman Edward R. Roybal, whose visionary leadership continues to guide and inspire public servants and Latino leaders across the nation. For more details about the 2025 NALEO Edward R. Roybal Legacy Celebration, click here.

The 2025 NALEO Roybal Legacy Celebration is made possible through the generous support of our Chair Sponsor, Waste Management; Vice Chair Sponsors, PepsiCo and Verizon; and our additional sponsors whose partnership helps honor this legacy.

The event is by invitation only. Media interested in covering it can email [email protected] for

additional information.

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About NALEO
The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials is the non-partisan leadership organization of the nation's more than 7,000 Latino elected and appointed officials.