Republican incumbent Wilton Simpson easily defeats Matt Taylor while Joey Mendoza Atkins wins the Democratic nomination, setting up a November race for Florida agriculture commissioner.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson has easily won the Republican nomination for another term, while Joey Mendoza Atkins has secured the Democratic nomination, setting up a November contest for one of the state’s four Cabinet positions.

Unofficial election-night results from the Florida Division of Elections showed Simpson defeating Republican challenger Matt Taylor by a wide margin Tuesday. On the Democratic side, Mendoza Atkins defeated Donald A. “Don” Prichard.

The winners will face each other in the Nov. 3 general election.

Simpson dominates Republican primary

Simpson, the incumbent agriculture commissioner and former president of the Florida Senate, entered Tuesday’s election seeking a second term overseeing the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Unofficial statewide results showed Simpson receiving approximately 69% of the Republican vote, compared with about 31% for Taylor.

With results reported from counties across Florida, Simpson had received more than 1 million votes, according to the state’s election-night reporting system.

Simpson also posted decisive margins across much of North Florida and the Big Bend.

In Leon County, election-night results showed Simpson leading Taylor by more than 53 percentage points. He also held sizable advantages in Jefferson, Bay, Escambia and numerous other counties.

Mendoza Atkins wins Democratic nomination

Democratic voters chose Mendoza Atkins over Prichard.

Unofficial statewide results showed Mendoza Atkins with roughly 60% of the vote, compared with about 40% for Prichard.

Mendoza Atkins also performed strongly across the Big Bend.

Election-night returns showed her leading Prichard by approximately 25 percentage points in Leon County, while also posting leads in Gadsden, Jefferson, Bay, Walton and numerous other counties.

FLORIDA COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTRE ELECTION RESULTS

What does Florida’s agriculture commissioner do?

Despite the title, Florida’s agriculture commissioner oversees responsibilities extending well beyond farms and ranches.

The commissioner leads the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and serves as one of three statewide elected Cabinet members alongside the attorney general and chief financial officer.

The department has responsibilities involving Florida agriculture, food safety, consumer protection, forestry and other regulatory programs.

Agriculture is also a major component of Florida’s economy, making the office particularly significant for the state’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities.

Simpson seeks another term

Simpson was elected agriculture commissioner in 2022 after serving in the Florida Legislature, including as president of the Florida Senate.

His Republican primary victory gives him the opportunity to seek another four-year term in November.

The race comes as Republicans continue to hold a significant advantage in statewide Florida politics. Democrats have struggled to win statewide contests in recent election cycles.

The last Democrat to win a statewide Florida election was Nikki Fried, who won the agriculture commissioner race in 2018. Florida has since shifted further toward Republicans, making the November contest another test of whether Democrats can break the GOP’s statewide winning streak.

November matchup set

Tuesday’s results mean Florida voters will choose between Simpson and Mendoza Atkins in November.

The winner will oversee an agency with responsibilities touching agriculture, consumers and natural resources across the state.

The election-night totals remain unofficial until county canvassing boards complete their work and results are certified.