A $100M Budget and 2022 Legacy: Simpson vs. Atkins in Agriculture Race

Florida voters will select the next agriculture commissioner in the Nov. 3 general election.

The role carries wide authority, ranging from farming policy to concealed carry permits and food safety. The department operates with a budget in the hundreds of millions, making the position one of the most powerful in the state cabinet.

Incumbent Wilton Simpson won the office in 2022. Before that, he served in the Florida Legislature, finishing his tenure as Senate president. Simpson is a fifth-generation farmer who owned a large-scale egg-laying operation in the state for more than 40 years. His campaign website notes that President Donald Trump has endorsed him. Simpson’s platform highlights his first term actions, including supporting laws to ban fluoride from tap water and lab-grown meat. He also championed legislation excusing absences for students in 4-H and FFA programs and blocking agricultural land purchases by foreign countries of concern. His team reports that the department has expedited license renewals, strengthened wildfire mitigation, and cleared a backlog of concealed weapon license applications.

Challenger Joey Mendoza Atkins is a trial attorney. His campaign bio lists legal aid work for farmworkers and DACA youth, along with roles as a sports agent and policy work with the UN’s Global Compact. Atkins says he will focus on fighting price gouging and suspending the state’s gas tax. He proposes a statewide moratorium on data centers to block new projects. He also wants to stop the "rent-a-cow" loophole, a practice where property owners place a few cattle on their land to receive tax benefits. In an interview with WLRN’s The Florida Roundup, Atkins described the Trump administration’s immigration raids as having "absolutely catastrophic, crippling effects" on agricultural communities. He emphasized the commissioner’s role as a Cabinet member, stating the position offers "a lot of power and influence" to advocate for policies with the governor and Legislature. Atkins said he will fight for family farms by protecting farmland from predatory developers.

The race pits a long-time agricultural producer against a legal specialist with diverse sector experience. Simpson’s team did not appear on the Florida Roundup show to discuss the campaign, while Atkins provided detailed policy positions during his interview. Both candidates are positioned to shape the department’s direction for the next four years. The election result will determine who oversees these key agricultural and consumer protection functions starting in 2027.