Polk County, Florida

Updates

Press releases, opinion pieces and statements from the Polk County Republican Executive Committee. Everything here is the committee speaking for itself. For election dates and voting information, see the Voting Resource Center.

Op-ed2026 election archiveSunday, November 1
Why We Support Amendment 1
Amendment 1 asks Florida to keep saving in good years so it never has to raise taxes in bad ones. The Polk GOP stands with the Republican Party of Florida and recommends YES.
Op-ed2026 election archiveSunday, November 1
The Conservative Case for Amendment 2
Florida farmers pay property tax every year on the same tractors and equipment they already paid for. Amendment 2 ends that. Polk County, one of Florida's great farm counties, should vote YES.
Op-ed2026 election archiveSunday, November 1
Why We Support Amendment 3
Amendment 3 raises the homestead exemption on non-school property taxes and slows rising assessments on other property. The Polk GOP stands with the Republican Party of Florida and recommends YES.
Op-ed2026 election archiveSunday, November 1
The Conservative Case Against the School Property Tax Referendum
Republicans believe in lower taxes. Florida is cutting property taxes, and the teachers unions funding the Polk school tax campaign want part of that money back. Vote NO on the school board millage referendum on November 3.
Op-ed2026 election archiveThursday, October 15
The Conservative Case for Wilton Simpson
Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, a Florida farmer and former Senate President, is the Trump-endorsed Republican nominee on Nov. 3, 2026.
Op-ed2026 election archiveThursday, October 15
The Conservative Case for Jennifer Kincart Jonsson
Rep. Jennifer Kincart Jonsson, author of five new Florida laws, is the Republican nominee for Florida House District 49 on Nov. 3, 2026.
Op-ed2026 election archiveThursday, October 15
The Conservative Case for Colleen Burton
Sen. Colleen Burton of Lakeland, chair of Senate Health Policy, is the Republican nominee for Florida Senate District 12 on Nov. 3, 2026.
Op-ed2026 election archiveThursday, October 15
The Conservative Case for Hilary Holley
Rep. Hilary Holley of Polk City, head of the Florida FFA Foundation, is the Republican nominee for Florida House District 51 on Nov. 3, 2026.
Op-ed2026 election archiveThursday, October 15
The Conservative Case for Jennifer Canady
Rep. Jennifer Canady, a Lakeland teacher and Speaker-designate of the Florida House, is the Republican nominee for House District 50 on Nov. 3, 2026.
Op-ed2026 election archiveThursday, October 15
The Conservative Case for Blaise Ingoglia
CFO Blaise Ingoglia, the homebuilder behind Government Gone Wild, is the Republican nominee for Florida Chief Financial Officer on Nov. 3, 2026.
Op-ed2026 election archiveThursday, October 15
The Conservative Case for James Uthmeier
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, Gov. DeSantis' former chief of staff, is the Trump-endorsed Republican nominee for Attorney General Nov. 3.
Op-ed2026 election archiveThursday, October 15
The Conservative Case for Scott Franklin
Rep. Scott Franklin, a Navy combat aviator and Lakeland businessman, is the Republican nominee for Florida's 18th District, home to most of Polk.
Op-ed2026 election archiveThursday, October 15
The Conservative Case for Sydney Gruters
Sydney Gruters, a Trump-endorsed former USDA Rural Development director, is the GOP nominee for Florida's 16th District, including southern Polk.
Op-ed2026 election archiveThursday, October 15
The Conservative Case for Ashley Moody
U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, a Plant City native, former judge and two-term Attorney General, is the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate on Nov. 3, 2026.
Op-ed2026 election archiveThursday, October 15
The Conservative Case Against David Jolly
David Jolly went from Washington lobbyist to one-term Republican congressman to MSNBC commentator to Democrat. Florida should elect Byron Donalds governor on November 3.
Op-ed2026 election archiveThursday, October 15
The Conservative Case for Byron Donalds
Banker, state legislator and Trump-endorsed congressman Byron Donalds, with running mate Sen. Bryan Avila, is running to keep Florida on the course Gov. Ron DeSantis set.
Statement2026 election archiveSaturday, October 3
Polk County GOP Voter Guide: November 3, 2026 General Election
Your Polk County voter guide for Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3: where and how to vote, what to do with a mail ballot, and every Republican on your ballot.
Op-ed2026 election archiveTuesday, September 29
The Conservative Case for Dan Green
Navy veteran and Trump defense appointee Dan Green, the GOP nominee in Florida's 9th Congressional District, is running to unseat U.S. Rep. Darren Soto.
Op-ed2026 election archiveWednesday, August 26
The Conservative Case for Jon Albert
Marine veteran, former Frostproof Mayor, and proven conservative legislator Jon Albert has delivered property tax relief, defended agriculture, and protected taxpayers in Tallahassee.
Op-ed2026 election archiveWednesday, August 26
The Conservative Case Against Alethea Pugh
Alethea Pugh pleaded guilty to grand theft from a high school athletics booster club and went to jail when she failed to pay the money back. House District 48 should re-elect Rep. Jon Albert on November 3.
Statement2026 election archiveTuesday, August 25
Your Republican Ballot This November
Every Republican on a Polk County ballot this November 3: statewide, congressional, legislative, and local. Who they are, what they've done, and what each race decides.
Op-ed2026 election archiveThursday, August 20
The Conservative Case for Kate Wallace
Kate Wallace was building school choice, literacy reform and rural broadband access in Polk County years before Governor DeSantis appointed her, and her record since shows why she has earned a full term.
Op-ed2026 election archiveSunday, August 16
The Conservative Case for Sam Neelam
Sam Neelam knows what a serious education can do for a child because it changed the entire course of his life.
Op-ed2026 election archiveSunday, August 16
The Conservative Case for Rick Wilson
Rick Wilson has deep Polk roots, a record voters can inspect and the experience to protect taxpayers while a fast-growing county confronts harder choices.
Op-ed2026 election archiveSunday, August 16
The Conservative Case for Omar Arroyo
Omar Arroyo has lived the American dream, built a business and delivered practical results in one of Florida's fastest-growing communities.
Op-ed2026 election archiveSunday, August 16
The Conservative Case for Justin Sharpless
Justin Sharpless combines classroom experience, conservative conviction and a record of measurable academic, workforce and safety progress.
Statement2026 election archiveSunday, August 16
[EXPIRED] Polk County Conservative Voting Guide: The Leaders We Need
The affirmative conservative case for Rick Wilson, Kate Wallace or Sarah Corona, Sam Neelam and Justin Sharpless.
Op-ed2026 election archiveSunday, August 16
The Conservative Case Against Kasen Chase Hampton
Kasen Chase Hampton brings enthusiasm to Polk County’s School Board District 6 race, but his limited experience, unanswered conservative questions and Democratic political coalition make Justin Sharpless the clear conservative choice.
Op-ed2026 election archiveSunday, August 16
The Conservative Case Against Kelly Quinn
Kelly Quinn’s own words, political coalition and campaign claims raise serious questions about her conservative judgment and readiness to govern Polk County.
Op-ed2026 election archiveSunday, August 16
The Conservative Case Against Victor Sims
A sheriff's detective investigated, found Sims passed a $20,000 check that wasn't his, and recommended felony charges. Sims advanced to the November 3 runoff, and the Florida Democratic Party, progressive pipelines, union PACs and DEI groups backing him show how he would govern.
Op-ed2026 election archiveSunday, August 16
The Conservative Case Against Kay Fields
After 24 years, Polk County deserves a School Board member who trusts parents, demands results and knows when government has gone too far.