Rep. Simpson Wins Re-election as Florida Agriculture Commissioner
Republican incumbent Wilton Simpson beats Democratic candidate Joey Mendoza Atkins for the position of Florida Agriculture Commissioner. Simpson, 60, secured his second term with 51.14% of the votes, while Atkins received 48.86%.
The commissioner oversees the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, a role that includes regulating agriculture, managing state forests, wildfire response, consumer protection, and concealed-weapons licensing.
Background of the Candidates
Wilton Simpson, an egg farmer from Pasco County and a fifth-generation Floridian, first entered politics in 2012 when he won a state Senate seat. He has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Rick Scott, and current Governor Ron DeSantis.
Joey Mendoza Atkins, a 41-year-old trial attorney, focuses on negligence cases. He holds degrees from Florida Atlantic University, the University of Toledo College of Law, and the Milano School of Policy, Management, and Environment. Atkins has also provided legal aid for migrant farmworkers. He criticizes Simpson for contributing to the rise in living costs, stating that his donor special interests drive up prices while harming farmers and farm workers.
The race was tighter than Simpson's 2018 win, when he secured a nearly 19 percentage-point margin.