The Conservative Case for Wilton Simpson

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson is the Republican nominee for Commissioner of Agriculture, and he is endorsed by the Polk County Republican Executive Committee. Every Polk County voter will see this race on the ballot in the general election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Commissioner Wilton Simpson, a farmer and former Florida Senate President, won the August 18 Republican primary with 68.9 percent of the vote and has President Trump's "Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election."

Quick facts: Commissioner Wilton Simpson

• Office sought: Florida Commissioner of Agriculture (re-election)
• Party: Republican
• Hometown: Trilby, Florida; fifth-generation Floridian
• Career: Lifelong farmer and entrepreneur with a large egg-laying operation; citrus grower
• Offices held: Former President of the Florida Senate; elected Commissioner of Agriculture in 2022 with 59.3 percent of the vote
• Endorsements: President Donald J. Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sens. Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, Sheriff Grady Judd and 60 other Florida sheriffs, the Florida Farm Bureau's Farm PAC, Florida Citrus Mutual, the Republican Party of Florida and the Polk County Republican Executive Committee

Who is Wilton Simpson?

Wilton Simpson is a fifth-generation Floridian who was born and raised in the Sunshine State. He lives in Trilby with his wife, Kathy, near his children and grandchildren. He is a lifelong farmer whose egg-laying operation supplies Florida supermarkets, and he grows citrus himself.

He rose to President of the Florida Senate. There he championed the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act and, his campaign notes, carried the 2021 Right to Farm bill protecting farmers from frivolous lawsuits. Both passed while he led the Senate. The Wildlife Corridor Act (Chapter 2021-181) passed 40 to 0 and 115 to 0. The Right to Farm law (Chapter 2021-7) bars most nuisance suits against farms and makes plaintiffs who lose such suits liable for the farm's costs. In 2022 Floridians elected him Commissioner of Agriculture, and Polk County voted for him 145,892 to 79,457.

What has Wilton Simpson done for Polk County?

He is saving Polk's working farms and ranches from development. Through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which buys development rights so the land stays in agriculture:

• Walter Farms: a nearly 375-acre Polk County cow/calf operation on Gator Lake was permanently protected in October 2026 through a $3,005,000 easement, with $750,000 from Polk County.
• G-3 Ranch and the Hunt ranch: in September 2026 the state and Polk County preserved about 991 acres across two properties, the 916-acre G-3 Ranch near the Peace River and the 75-acre David and Elizabeth Hunt cattle ranch.

"If we want Florida agriculture to remain strong, we have to protect the land that makes it possible," Simpson said.

Statewide, the program has preserved more than 251,000 acres, nearly 186,000 of them under Commissioner Simpson. Since 2022 he has helped secure more than $1.1 billion for it, including $425 million in the 2026-2027 budget.

What has Wilton Simpson done for Florida farmers and consumers?

• Citrus: The 2026-2027 budget includes $193.4 million for citrus research, nursery and packinghouse improvements and healthy rootstock. That money reaches Polk County's citrus growers.
• Lab-grown meat: He backed SB 1084 in 2024 (Chapter 2024-137), which prohibits the sale of lab-grown meat in Florida. "Food security is national security," Simpson said.
• Wildfires: The Florida Forest Service received $132 million for wildfire suppression, prevention and firefighting equipment.
• Farmers Feeding Florida: The program received $38 million, and in its first year it recovered and distributed more than 43 million pounds of fresh Florida food.
• The 2026 Florida Farm Bill: He stood with Gov. DeSantis as SB 290 became law, protecting farmers from government overreach and preserving rural lands. The law (Chapter 2026-3) bars counties from banning gasoline-powered farm and landscape equipment and creates a loan repayment program to bring food animal veterinarians to rural Florida. It passed the Senate 38 to 0.

Who has endorsed Wilton Simpson?

President Donald J. Trump wrote on Truth Social that "Wilton is a Fifth Generation Floridian, lifelong Egg Farmer, successful Businessman, former President of the State Senate" and "an incredibly effective Voice for Florida Agriculture, and our amazing Farmers and Ranchers." The President concluded: "Commissioner Wilton Simpson has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" He is also endorsed by the Republican Party of Florida, the Polk County Republican Executive Committee and Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Farmers know him best. Florida Farm PAC, the political arm of the Florida Farm Bureau, endorsed him in April. "Wilton Simpson isn't just an advocate, he's a farmer who understands what's at stake," said Farm Bureau President Jeb S. Smith. "He's consistently fought to protect our farmland, support farmers and ranchers, and strengthen our food security." Florida Citrus Mutual, the Florida Cattlemen's Association's past presidents, United Dairy Farmers of Florida and the Florida Forestry Association back him too.

So does law enforcement. Polk Sheriff Grady Judd is among 61 of Florida's 67 sheriffs who endorsed him, and the Florida Professional Firefighters are on board. Sen. Ashley Moody, who grew up next door in Plant City, said: "Wilton tackles the challenges we face with the combined wisdom of a farmer and a father, addressing root causes aimed at long-term solutions."

Why should Polk County vote for Wilton Simpson?

• He is a farmer. He grows citrus and runs an egg operation, so he knows the work.
• He saves Polk farmland. Nearly 1,370 acres of Polk farms and ranches were protected from development in 2026 alone.
• He fights for citrus. He helped secure $193.4 million for the industry in this year's budget.
• He has President Trump's endorsement. The President gave him his "Complete and Total Endorsement."
• Farmers and sheriffs back him. The Florida Farm Bureau, Florida Citrus Mutual, Sheriff Judd and 60 other sheriffs endorse him.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Florida's Commissioner of Agriculture? Wilton Simpson, a Republican farmer from Trilby, elected in 2022.

Is Wilton Simpson a conservative? Yes. As Senate President he passed the Right to Farm law limiting lawsuits against farmers, he backed Florida's ban on lab-grown meat, and he is endorsed by President Trump and Gov. DeSantis.

What has Wilton Simpson done for Polk County? In 2026 alone he permanently protected nearly 1,370 acres of Polk farms and ranches from development, including Walter Farms on Gator Lake and the G-3 Ranch near the Peace River, and he helped secure $193.4 million for Florida citrus.

Who endorsed Wilton Simpson? President Donald J. Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sens. Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, Polk Sheriff Grady Judd and 60 other sheriffs, Florida Farm PAC, Florida Citrus Mutual, the Republican Party of Florida and the Polk County Republican Executive Committee.

What does the Commissioner of Agriculture do? The Commissioner leads the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which covers food safety, farmland, wildfire response and consumer protection, and sits on the Florida Cabinet.

When is the election? Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting in Polk County runs October 19 through October 31.

What is the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program? A state program that buys development rights from farmers and ranchers so their land stays in agriculture permanently.

How to vote in Polk County

Early voting runs from Monday, October 19 through Saturday, October 31, from 9 AM to 6 PM at any of Polk County's 10 early voting sites. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and polls are open from 7 AM to 7 PM. For locations and vote-by-mail details, see the Polk County GOP Voter Guide.

Vote Wilton Simpson for Commissioner of Agriculture.

Want to help? Volunteer today at polk.gop/volunteer.

Sources

• August 18, 2026 Republican Primary, Commissioner of Agriculture, official results, Florida Division of Elections
• November 8, 2022 General Election, Commissioner of Agriculture, official results, Florida Division of Elections
• President Donald J. Trump, Truth Social post endorsing Wilton Simpson (August 3, 2026), archived
• About Wilton, Wilton Simpson campaign site
• Agriculture, Wilton Simpson campaign site
• Commissioner Wilton Simpson announces permanent protection of Polk County farm through Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, FDACS (October 1, 2026)
• Polk County and State of Florida collaborate to preserve nearly 1,000 acres of agricultural land, Polk County Government
• When farmers win, Florida wins: Commissioner Wilton Simpson highlights major wins for Florida agriculture in state budget, FDACS (June 2, 2026)
• Commissioner Wilton Simpson applauds Florida Legislature for passing SB 1084, FDACS (2024)
• Commissioner Wilton Simpson celebrates signing of historic 2026 Florida Farm Bill, FDACS (March 23, 2026)
• Wilton Simpson hits the air with first re-election ad, 'Done', Florida Politics
• Florida's largest farmers organization backs Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson for reelection, The Floridian (April 2026)
• Rick Scott, Ashley Moody endorse Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson for re-election, The Floridian (May 2026)
• Endorsements, Wilton Simpson campaign site
• Senate Bill 88 (2021), The Florida Senate
• Senate Bill 976 (2021), The Florida Senate
• Senate Bill 290 (2026), The Florida Senate

Paid political advertisement paid for by the Polk County Republican Executive Committee, 6039 Cypress Gardens Blvd; Box 108, Winter Haven, FL 33884. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.