Indian River Sheriff Among 4 Backing GOP Challenger to Soto in Redrawn CD-9

Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers has joined three fellow sheriffs in endorsing Republican Ben Butler for Congress, lending regional law enforcement credibility to a challenge that could flip Florida's 9th Congressional District from Democratic hands.

Flowers, along with Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman, Glades County Sheriff David Hardin, and Okeechobee County Sheriff Noel Stephen, announced their support for Butler last week. All four sheriffs serve counties that fall within the newly redrawn CD-9, and each cited Butler's positions on border security, fentanyl enforcement, and support for law enforcement as reasons for backing him.

"The people risking their lives to protect our communities know what's at stake in this election," Butler said in a statement. "They know we need leaders willing to secure the border, crack down on violent crime, stop the flow of fentanyl, and unapologetically stand with law enforcement."

The race exists in its current form because of a congressional map signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that extended CD-9 from Kissimmee south through Okeechobee — transforming what was a reliably Democratic seat into one where nearly 58 percent of voters backed Donald Trump in the last presidential election. U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, a Democrat who has held the seat since 2016, now faces a significantly more hostile electorate.

Butler is a ninth-generation Floridian who operates Butler Oaks Farm, a dairy operation in Lorida. He has served on the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board since DeSantis appointed him in 2019 — a role that carries direct significance for Treasure Coast water quality and Everglades restoration policy. He entered the race last week with endorsements from U.S. Reps. Kat Cammack and Greg Steube and reported raising more than $100,000 in his first 48 hours as a candidate.

For Indian River County voters, Sheriff Flowers' endorsement carries weight beyond party affiliation. It signals that the county's top law enforcement officer views the congressional race as consequential to local public safety priorities.

No primary date has been set. The general election is November 2026.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.