Vero Beach's Robert Brackett Joins Crowded CD 9 Race as Rival Clears Petition Threshold

A St. Cloud-based commercial pilot and retired Marine Corps officer has become the first candidate in Florida's 9th Congressional District to qualify for the 2026 ballot by petition, collecting enough verified signatures to bypass the filing fee. He'll face former Vero Beach Mayor Robert Brackett among at least six other Republicans in a primary the party views as a major pickup opportunity.

Justin Story announced his campaign had cleared the 2,564-signature threshold required for congressional candidates, with the state verifying 2,577 petitions — 13 more than needed. Every signature had to be collected by hand, submitted to a Supervisor of Elections, and matched against voter rolls. Campaigns routinely lose 20% or more of gathered signatures to disqualification in this process. Clearing that bar months before the qualifying period closes signals an organized ground operation at the outset of what will be a competitive race.

The Republican primary is crowded. Story, a sixth-generation Floridian and former F-18 fighter pilot, is one of at least seven GOP candidates seeking the nomination. Brackett, who served as mayor of Vero Beach before leaving office, is among those running, giving Indian River County a direct stake in the outcome of a race that spans a corridor stretching from Osceola County southward. The redrawn district favors Republicans by nearly 18 points based on recent presidential performance, Story's campaign says, making the seat a top GOP target to flip from Democratic incumbent Darren Soto in November 2026.

Story has campaigned on border security, reduced costs, and what he describes as accountability in Washington.

Brackett's entry into the field puts two candidates with deep Treasure Coast ties in the same primary lane. District boundaries and which Treasure Coast precincts fall within CD 9 will shape where each candidate focuses their organizing efforts over the coming months.

Florida law gives candidates two paths to the ballot: pay a qualifying fee or collect verified petition signatures from registered voters in their district. Congressional candidates face the steepest petition requirement in the state. The 2026 qualifying period opens in the spring. Candidates who clear the petition threshold now are free to focus resources on campaigning rather than fundraising for fees.

The primary is scheduled for August 2026.

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