Richard Corcoran
Richard Corcoran
FL-16 Republican nominee?
$196.2K
AUG 19, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleOther
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age61 years old (Mar 16, 1965)
GenderMale
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LocationFlorida
BackgroundAttorney
EducationSt. Leo College (B.A., 1989)
Notable personal detailsRichard Michael Corcoran is an American attorney, education administrator, and former Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives who served as Speaker of the Florida House from 2016 to 2018. He was Florida’s Commissioner of Education from 2019 to 2022. He later became president of New College of Florida in 2023. Corcoran served in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1987 to 1993.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
The candidate opposes tax increases and has advocated for tax cuts, reduced regulation, and redirecting funds toward priorities like education and infrastructure while lowering taxes for businesses and individuals. He has stated a firm position against raising taxes on individuals or businesses and supported policies to lower taxes and remove regulatory barriers to economic growth.
Healthcare
Richard Corcoran has opposed Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act and promoted market-based alternatives such as private coverage options and vouchers for low-income Floridians; he has criticized the quality of Medicaid and supported privatization/managed-care approaches for the program.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate supports stronger immigration enforcement and opposes sanctuary policies, backing measures that increase cooperation with federal immigration authorities and tougher criminal penalties for illegal entry and re‑entry. Campaign ads and public statements have framed immigration as a law‑and‑order issue and endorsed federal enforcement actions. Recent participation in state-level immigration roundtables aligns him with enforcement-focused Florida policies.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Richard Corcoran has publicly identified as pro‑life and has participated in and spoken to pro‑life organizations. His record includes advocacy against Planned Parenthood funding and engagement with anti‑abortion groups and events. These public statements and activities indicate support for restrictions on abortion access rather than for unrestricted access.
Climate & Energy
Richard Corcoran has not articulated clear, detailed climate or energy policy positions in public statements. He declined to say whether human activity causes climate change and has not advanced identifiable climate legislation or commitments in available public records.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate supported the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, which included raising the minimum age to buy long guns to 21, a waiting period, a ban on bump stocks, and an extreme-risk (“red flag”) provision; he said protecting students was a priority while also noting NRA membership and concealed-carry status.
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