Richard Corcoran
Richard Corcoran
FL-16 Republican nominee?
$192.8K
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
EducationSaint Leo University (BA, 1989)
Notable personal detailsRichard Michael Corcoran is an American attorney, education administrator, and former Florida politician. He served in the Florida House of Representatives (2010–2018) and was Speaker of the Florida House (2016–2018). He was Florida Commissioner of Education (2019–2022) and became interim president of New College of Florida in February 2023 before being selected as the college’s president. He earned a B.A. from Saint Leo University and a J.D. from Regent University.
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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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We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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