Polling Average
40%30%20%10%0%
27.6%
27.0%
10.6%
Florida Republican Governor nominee?
$5.6M
AUG 19, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleOther
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age59 years old (Jun 28, 1966)
GenderMale
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LocationFlorida
BackgroundPolitician
EducationPasco-Hernando State College (A.A.)
Notable personal detailsWilton Earl Simpson is an American politician and Florida farmer who has served as Florida’s 13th Commissioner of Agriculture since 2023. He previously served in the Florida Senate from 2012 to 2022, including as President of the Florida Senate (2020–2022) and as Senate Majority Leader (2016–2018). He has been associated with agricultural business, including ownership/management of a large-scale egg-laying operation.
SourcesShowHide
en.wikipedia.orgfdacscoa.fdacs.govwiltonsimpson.comlinkedin.comwusf.orgnfib.comes.wikipedia.orgfarmflavor.comwikidata.orgwuft.orgwmnf.orgmiamiherald.comgrants.fdacs.govforms.fdacs.govflsenate.govfloridadaily.comflvoicenews.comwlrn.orgfloridapolitics.comfloridianpress.comcbsnews.compolitico.comtechxplore.commorningagclips.comaxios.comcdn.ballotpedia.orggo.politico.comsenate.govnga.orgncsl.orgcramer.senate.govballotready.orgappropriations.senate.govcongress.govmoody.senate.govjustfacts.votesmart.orgdocuments.ncsl.orgcastor.house.govpatronis.house.govhydesmith.senate.govaging.senate.govcammack.house.govrickscott.senate.govgovinfo.govfec.govcrapo.senate.gov
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and interstate/short-term plans while requiring at least one policy to cover pre-existing conditions if the ACA were repealed, and he has expressed opposition to expanding Medicaid in Florida, favoring job creation over Medicaid expansion.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 updatedJun 12, 2026
Wilton Simpson is in the news mainly because Florida’s 2026 governor race is taking shape, with the field now crowded and early polls showing Republicans holding narrow leads. The race is still fluid, but Democrats are trying to make the contest more competitive than in past cycles. Separate Florida legislative news has also centered on major policy moves, including a stablecoin regulation bill and a new congressional map that Republicans say could add House seats.
en.wikipedia.org+45
Articles
NNewsweek3 months ago
Democrats’ Chances of Defeating Republicans To Flip Florida: New Poll
Neutral
NNews-Press3 months ago
Florida 2026 races: GOP holds single-digit leads in new poll
Neutral
NNewsmax1 month ago
Rep. Haridopolos to Newsmax: Supreme Court Ruling Boosts GOP Redistricting
Neutral
FForbes4 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
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
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