Ben Butler, a Republican candidate from Okeechobee, has raised about $330,000 from nearly 300 individual donors to challenge U.S. Representative Darren Soto in Florida’s 9th Congressional District, with the primary set for August 18. The district was redrawn after Governor Ron DeSantis altered the map, shifting the seat from a Central Florida area where 51% of voters supported Democrat Kamala Harris to a district extending from Kissimmee to Okeechobee where 58% supported Republican Donald Trump. Butler, who co-owns Butler Oaks Farm and grew up in Central Florida, launched his campaign in May and has received public endorsements from U.S. Representatives Kat Cammack and Greg Steube. His campaign reported that the money came from individual donors and did not include personal loans. Unlike Thomas Chalifoux, who loaned his campaign $2.25 million before April and pledged up to $3 million, Butler said he is not using personal loans. Marcus Carter, the main Republican opponent, raised just under $21,000 through June, according to his campaign. Seven Republicans have qualified for the primary, but most have not yet filed their second‑quarter reports. The new map may increase the competitiveness of the race, as it now includes a larger share of Republican‑leaning voters. The primary on August 18 will decide which candidate advances to face Soto in the general election.