The Florida commissioner of agriculture’s responsibilities reach beyond farms and ranches. The office oversees a department involved in food safety, consumer complaints, state forests and concealed weapon licensing. Its work can affect what residents purchase, how businesses operate and how Florida protects its agricultural land.

Republican incumbent Wilton Simpson and Democrat Joey Mendoza Atkins are the two candidates whose names appear on the November ballot. State election records also identify Kyle “KC” Gibson as a qualified write-in candidate.

Wilton Simpson, Republican

Wilton Simpson is Florida’s incumbent agriculture commissioner and a former state Senate president. He served in the Senate from 2012 to 2022, including as president during the final two years. His background includes farming and business ownership, with decades of experience operating a large egg-producing business.

Simpson’s campaign emphasizes farmland preservation, support for agricultural businesses, consumer protection and fewer regulatory burdens. He highlights conservation easements that preserve working agricultural land, wildfire prevention and his support for Florida’s prohibition on cultivated, or lab-grown, meat. His campaign presents those efforts as part of protecting the state’s food supply and agricultural economy.

Campaign Website: https://wiltonsimpson.com/

Joey Mendoza Atkins, Democrat

Joey Mendoza Atkins is a Florida attorney whose background includes civil litigation and legal aid work involving farmworkers. His campaign connects those experiences to the department’s responsibilities for consumers, agricultural workers and businesses. In published candidate responses, he has emphasized legal experience, economic development and accountable management as qualifications for leading the agency.

Atkins’ proposals include stronger enforcement against fraud and price gouging, protection of farmland from development and a statewide moratorium on data centers. He also supports conservation and using scientific data to guide environmental decisions. His campaign says affordability and consumer protection should receive greater attention alongside support for Florida’s agricultural producers. Some proposals, including a gas-tax suspension, would require cooperation from other state officials.

Campaign Website: https://www.joeyforflorida.com/

Kyle “KC” Gibson, write-in candidate

Kyle “KC” Gibson is a qualified write-in candidate for commissioner of agriculture, according to the Florida Division of Elections. State records show that he qualified June 12, 2026. His name will not appear as a printed candidate choice; voters supporting a qualified write-in candidate use the write-in space provided on the ballot.

Voter Information Box

Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026
Poll Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Registration Deadline: The deadline to register for this election was Oct. 5, 2026.
Where to Vote: On Election Day, voters must vote at their assigned precinct. Confirm your polling location through your county supervisor of elections.

Early Voting: Miami-Dade County offers early voting Oct. 19 through Nov. 1, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Miami-Dade voters may use any designated early voting location in the county. Elsewhere in Florida, dates, hours and locations vary; all counties offer early voting Oct. 24–31.

Vote by Mail: Requests for a ballot to be mailed must be received by 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22. Completed domestic vote-by-mail ballots must reach the county supervisor of elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Postmarks do not count. In Miami-Dade, ballots may also be returned at designated secure ballot intake stations during early voting hours. Do not drop a mail ballot at an Election Day precinct.

Voting Resources: Visit Florida’s Division of Elections or Miami-Dade Elections for sample ballots, polling locations and additional information.