Florida Agricultural Commissioner Wilton Simpson shared he has received an endorsement from U.S. Rep. Scott Franklin (R-FL) in his re-election campaign for commissioner.
"I'm proud to endorse Commissioner Wilton Simpson for his continued leadership on behalf of Florida agriculture," Franklin said. "Wilton understands the challenges facing our farmers, ranchers, and rural communities because he’s lived them himself. From protecting Florida’s citrus industry and strengthening our food supply chain, to standing up for conservative values and supporting our agriculture economy, he's been a strong advocate for Florida families and producers."
"I'm pleased to partner with him at the federal level to keep our Florida agriculture strong and ensure our rural communities continue to thrive," Franklin added.
Rep. Franklin has served District 18 since 2023. The area includes a portion of Polk County and part of Osceola County in Central Florida.
Commissioner Simpson announced his re-election bid in April. Simpson, a Republican, has been Agricultural Commissioner since January 2023.
Simpson won his first election by nearly 19 points over Democrat Naomi Blemur in 2022. A longtime farmer, entrepreneur, and native Floridian, Simpson has owned and managed a large-scale egg-laying operation in the state for over four decades.
His current term ends in January 2027. Simpson served in the Florida Senate before becoming commissioner.
Along with Rep. Franklin, U.S. Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Ashley Moody (R-FL) have endorsed Commissioner Simpson in the race. The Florida Farm Bureau Federation and several Florida sheriffs, including Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, Duval County Sheriff T.K. Waters, and Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, are also backing Simpson.
Notably, Simpson endorsed Sen. Moody for a full term in the U.S. Senate on Monday.
Simpson's competitors for commissioner include Kyle Chaderwick Gibson, Richard Earl Olle Jr, Chase "Andy" Anderson Romagnano, and Matt The Welder.
The 2026 general election will be held on November 3.
This is a joke right? Well it worked! I will still be laughing when I go to polls to vote for MATT THE WELDER AKA MATT TAYLOR.