Trump Endorsed
Polling Average
40%30%20%10%0%
27.6%
27.0%
10.6%
Florida Republican Governor nominee?
$11.3M
AUG 19, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleOther
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age60 years old (Jun 28, 1966)
GenderMale
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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.cominstagram.commiamiherald.commiamitimesonline.combyrondonalds.comsenate.govgovinfo.govhistory.house.govagriculture.senate.govmoody.senate.govbioguideretro.congress.govjustfacts.votesmart.orgrickscott.senate.govdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgdata.ballotpedia.orglegislation.ballotpedia.orges.wikipedia.orgwikidata.orgnews.ballotpedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.org
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and interstate/short-term plans while requiring at least one policy to cover pre-existing conditions if the ACA were repealed, and he has expressed opposition to expanding Medicaid in Florida, favoring job creation over Medicaid expansion.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.
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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.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 15, 2026
Wilton Simpson is in the news mainly because Florida’s 2026 political landscape is shifting, with polls showing Republicans holding only narrow leads in the governor and Senate races and Democrats seeing some opening. Florida lawmakers also passed a new congressional map that Republicans say could add up to four U.S. House seats, though it may face legal challenges. Separately, the Florida Senate passed a stablecoin regulation bill, adding to the state’s recent policy activity.
fdacs.gov+46
Articles
NNewsweek5 months ago
Democrats’ Chances of Defeating Republicans To Flip Florida: New Poll
Neutral
NNews-Press5 months ago
Florida 2026 races: GOP holds single-digit leads in new poll
Neutral
NNewsmax3 months ago
Rep. Haridopolos to Newsmax: Supreme Court Ruling Boosts GOP Redistricting
Neutral
FForbes5 months ago
Trump Made Higher Ed A Target, More States Are Taking Dead Aim At It
Neutral
Polls
Florida Republican Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Florida Republican Governor nominee?
Endorsers of Wilton Simpson for Florida Republican Governor nominee?
Donald Trump
Public figure
Donald Trump endorsed Wilton Simpson for re-election as Florida agriculture commissioner.
Florida Chamber of Commerce
Advocacy group
Florida Chamber of Commerce endorsed Wilton Simpson for reelection as Florida commissioner of agriculture.
Florida Citrus Mutual
Public figure
Florida Citrus Mutual endorsed Wilton Simpson for re-election as agriculture commissioner.
Florida Young Republicans
Public figure
Florida Young Republicans endorsed Wilton Simpson for reelection as agriculture commissioner.
Incoming legislative leaders
Public endorsement
Incoming legislative leaders endorsed Wilton Simpson.
Florida’s 32,000 firefighters
Public endorsement
Florida’s 32,000 firefighters endorsed Wilton Simpson.
Ron DeSantis
Public endorsement
Ron DeSantis endorsed Wilton Simpson for a second term as agriculture commissioner.
Scott Franklin
Public figure
Scott Franklin endorsed Wilton Simpson for agriculture commissioner.
John Kirtley
Public figure
John Kirtley endorsed Wilton Simpson for agriculture commissioner.
61 Florida Sheriffs
Public endorsement
61 Florida sheriffs endorsed Wilton Simpson for agriculture commissioner.
Ashley Moody
Public figure
Ashley Moody endorsed Wilton Simpson for agriculture commissioner.
Florida Farm Bureau's PAC
Political organization
Florida Farm Bureau's PAC endorsed Wilton Simpson for re-election as agriculture commissioner.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Fundraising