Polling Average
40%30%20%10%0%
27.6%
27.0%
10.6%
Republican
Wilton Simpson
Republican candidate for Governor in Florida
Florida Republican Governor nominee?
$63.4M
AUG 19, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Live Odds — Florida Republican Governor nominee?
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
0%chance to win
$63.4MAUG 19, 2026Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleOther
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age60 years old (Jun 28, 1966)
GenderMale
Show moreShow less
LocationFlorida
BackgroundPolitician
EducationPasco–Hernando State College — Associate of Arts (1997)
Notable personal detailsWilton Earl Simpson is a Florida Republican politician and farmer who has served as Florida’s 13th Commissioner of Agriculture since January 2023. He previously served in the Florida Senate from 2012 to 2022 and was President of the Florida Senate for the 2020–2022 term. He is a longtime agribusiness owner, including operating a large-scale egg-laying operation, and has been involved in agriculture-related policy and advocacy in Florida.
SourcesShowHide
fdacs.govfdacscoa.fdacs.govwiltonsimpson.comen.wikipedia.orgdos.elections.myflorida.comsimpson.edusimpsonswiki.comballotready.orgmultistate.usivoterguide.comwusf.orgsimpsoncleaning.comlegacy.comsparkers-soapbox.comforms.fdacs.govflchamber.comballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.comccmedia.fdacs.govreddit.comfloridadaily.comflvoicenews.comwlrn.orgfloridapolitics.comfloridianpress.comcbsnews.compolitico.comtechxplore.commorningagclips.comfacebook.comflorida.gopmiamitimesonline.comtallahassee.comfloridarealtors.orgwashingtonexaminer.comwfmd.comwesh.comballotpedia.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orgncsl.orgsenate.govgovinfo.govbioguideretro.congress.govdocuments.ncsl.orgrickscott.senate.govagriculture.senate.govfranklin.house.govnga.orgwarren.senate.govcongress.goviqconnect.house.govpatronis.house.gov
Political Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports lowering and limiting taxes for families, businesses, and agricultural producers, and has advanced policies to reduce tax burdens (including sales-tax holidays, exemptions for manufacturing and agricultural equipment, and proposals to prohibit local special assessments on farmland). Emphasizes fiscal responsibility, balanced budgets, and keeping taxes low to promote economic growth.
Healthcare
Wilton Simpson has sponsored legislation to allow more market-based insurance options and interstate/short-term plans while requiring at least one policy to cover pre-existing conditions if the ACA were repealed, and he has expressed opposition to expanding Medicaid in Florida, favoring job creation over Medicaid expansion. His public statements and sponsored bills emphasize competition and limited government solutions rather than expanding government-run coverage.
Show moreShow less
Immigration & Border
Supports stronger immigration enforcement and state-level border security measures while endorsing legal immigration; has promoted use of E-Verify, backed Florida law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities (including 287(g)), opposed sanctuary cities, and announced expanded inspection/interdiction efforts.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate describes himself as "100% pro-life," supports restrictions on abortion including a 15-week prohibition he helped advance, and supported parental-consent requirements and protections for infants born alive. He has acted in legislative leadership to advance abortion restrictions.
Climate & Energy
Supports rolling back state renewable energy goals and emphasizes protecting agriculture and energy independence while opposing ESG-driven or aggressive climate mandates; favors adaptation measures (e.g., sea-level resilience) and has backed restrictions on geoengineering. Positions indicate acceptance of transitional fossil fuel use and resistance to binding decarbonization policies.
Public Safety & Guns
Wilton Simpson has promoted policies to protect gun purchasers’ privacy and to preserve Second Amendment rights, including proposing the “Florida Arms and Ammo Act” to limit tracking of gun and ammunition purchases and opposing measures he views as chipping away at gun rights. He also signaled support for loosening age restrictions on firearm purchases in Florida. Simpson has acted to align his office with law-enforcement interests on concealed-weapons background-check procedures.
Latest News
AINews Summary
Last updatedAug 14, 2026
Wilton Simpson is in the news because Florida’s Republican governor primary is just days away, and election officials are warning that ballot wording may be confusing some voters and causing overvotes that would not count unless corrected. He is also part of a crowded GOP field in a contested race ahead of the Aug. 18 primary. Separate coverage says Florida gubernatorial candidates, including Simpson, have been taking positions on the state’s expanding Flock license-plate camera surveillance program.
fdacs.gov+50
Articles
TTCPalm2 months ago
Florida ballot for Republican governor may be confusing to some voters
Neutral
NNewsweek8 months ago
Democrats’ Chances of Defeating Republicans To Flip Florida: New Poll
Neutral
GSGainesville Sun3 months ago
Florida state, congressional elections, candidates, schedules in 2026
Neutral
GSGainesville Sun3 months ago
From the governor's race to crocodiles and jet skis
Neutral
Latest Polls
Florida Republican Governor nominee?
Recent polling results and the candidate's current average in the race.
Wilton Simpson currently averages 2.8%, ranking 6th in this race, 0.2 points behind the next candidate.
Polling average: 2.8%Position: 6thMargin: -0.2 ptsLatest poll: 2.0% (Sep 16 - 18)Polls included: 12
Average recalculated from polls through Sep 16 - 18.
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
- Fundraising