Scotty Moore, GOP candidate leading in campaign funds, disqualified in U.S. House District 9 race

Gary White
The Ledger

The leading Republican challenger hoping to unseat U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, has been disqualified from the Republican primary in August.

Scotty Moore of Orlando submitted an incorrect form to the Florida Division of Elections as part of his qualifying material to run in the U.S. House-District 9 election, according to a report from Florida Politics and an account from one of his Republican rivals. The Division of Elections did not immediately respond to a request from The Ledger on Monday.

Moore, a former Christian missionary, submitted a party statement used to qualify candidates for state and local elections, not the one required for federal candidates, Florida Politics reported. Moore’s name initially appeared on the Division of Elections’ list of qualified candidates after the state qualifying period ended June 17, but his name had been removed as of Monday morning.

That leaves three Republicans as qualified candidates: Jose Castillo of Davenport, Adianas Morales of Ocoee and Sergio Ortiz of Kissimmee.

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Moore had amassed a substantial lead in fundraising among the Republican challengers. He had received about $268,000 in campaign funds through the end of March, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Castillo was next with $71,000, followed by Ortiz ($8,045) and Morales ($950). The next campaign-finance reports are due after the second quarter ends on Thursday.

Soto has collected more than $708,000 in contributions, according to his FEC filing.

Another Republican candidate, Bill Olson of Davenport, left the race this month to run for the Florida House. He is challenging state Rep. Josie Tomkow, R-Polk City, in District 51

Olson captured the Republican primary in 2020, but Soto defeated him by 12%.

Castillo and Ortiz both ran in 2020, with Castillo receiving 20.1% of the vote in the Republican primary.

Moore has vowed to sue the Florida Division of Elections over his disqualification, Florida Politics reported.

District 9 currently encompasses much of eastern Polk County, extending east to the Polk Parkway. Following redistricting, it will cover only small sections along the Osceola County border.

Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13.