Discovery Insights Elections Candidates Calendar Watchlist

Republican

Wilton Simpson

Republican

Wilton Simpson

Florida Republican Governor nominee?

$5.4M

AUG 19, 2026

Primary Election

Party selects its nominee.

5 more

Overview

Current roleOther

PartyRepublican

Political ideologyConservative Republican

Age59 years old (Jun 28, 1966)

GenderMale

LocationFlorida

BackgroundPolitician

EducationPasco–Hernando State College — A.A. (1997)

Notable personal detailsWilton Earl Simpson is an American politician and farmer who has served as Florida’s 13th Commissioner of Agriculture since January 3, 2023. A Republican, he previously served in the Florida Senate from 2012 to 2022 and was President of the Florida Senate from 2020 to 2022. He has been an entrepreneur in agriculture, including decades managing a large-scale egg-laying operation, and has been involved in family businesses in farming and environmental services.

SourcesShow

fdacscoa.fdacs.gov en.wikipedia.org wiltonsimpson.com wusf.org es.wikipedia.org fdacs.gov farmflavor.com wuft.org wmnf.org flvoicenews.com forms.fdacs.gov flsenate.gov aif.com flforestry.org arxiv.org floridadaily.com wlrn.org floridapolitics.com floridianpress.com cbsnews.com politico.com techxplore.com morningagclips.com justfacts.votesmart.org apnews.com axios.com cdn.ballotpedia.org go.politico.com ncsl.org patronis.house.gov hydesmith.senate.gov ballotready.org senate.gov cramer.senate.gov congress.gov documents.ncsl.org webster.house.gov crapo.senate.gov castor.house.gov moody.senate.gov aging.senate.gov wikidata.org rickscott.senate.gov govinfo.gov whitehouse.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and interstate/short-term plans while requiring at least one policy to cover pre-existing conditions if the ACA were repealed, and he has expressed opposition to expanding Medicaid in Florida, favoring job creation over Medicaid expansion.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.

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.

Polls

Florida Republican Governor nominee?

Polling Average

40%30%20%10%0%

27.6%

27.0%

10.6%

W. Simpson

C. DeSantis

B. Donalds

M. Gaetz

P. Renner

C. Burkett

J. Patronis

J. Collins

Date (Start - End)	Spread	Simpson	DeSantis	Donalds	Gaetz	Renner	Burkett	Patronis	Collins
Polling Average	DeSantis+24.9	2.8%	27.6%	27.0%	10.6%	4.0%	3.0%	2.6%	2.0%
Targoz Market ResearchSep 16 - 18	DeSantis+24.0	2.0%	26.0%	23.0%	–	7.0%	–	–	2.0%
University of North Florida Public Opinion Research LabJul 14 - 22	DeSantis+31.0	1.0%	32.0%	29.0%	8.0%	–	–	–	–
St. Pete PollsJul 8 - 10	Donalds+39.5	4.1%	–	43.6%	–	2.9%	–	–	2.1%
St. Pete PollsJul 8 - 10	Donalds+31.8	3.1%	27.4%	34.9%	–	2.2%	–	–	–
Targoz Market ResearchMay 5 - 7	DeSantis+25.0	4.0%	29.0%	28.0%	10.0%	–	3.0%	–	–
Targoz Market ResearchApr 15 - 22	DeSantis+23.0	4.0%	27.0%	24.0%	8.0%	–	3.0%	–	–
Fabrizio, Lee & AssociatesFeb 26 - 27	Donalds+31.0	3.0%	30.0%	34.0%	–	–	–	–	–
Victory InsightsJan 26 - 27	Donalds+28.4	2.9%	–	31.3%	–	–	–	–	–
Victory InsightsJan 26 - 27	Donalds+28.8	5.0%	–	33.8%	–	–	–	–	–
Victory InsightsApr 3 - 6	Donalds+18.5	2.1%	–	20.6%	12.8%	–	–	2.9%	–
Kaplan StrategiesFeb 27 - 28	Gaetz+15.0	1.0%	–	13.0%	16.0%	–	–	2.0%	–
University of North Florida Public Opinion Research LabOct 23 - Nov 4	DeSantis+21.0	1.0%	22.0%	9.0%	9.0%	–	–	3.0%	–

Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne

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We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.

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