2022 Florida Commissioner of Agriculture election
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2022 Florida Commissioner of Agriculture election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. Incumbent Democratic Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried was eligible to run for a second term, but she instead ran for governor of Florida in 2022.[1] Republican Wilton Simpson won the election with over 59% of the vote. Simpson's victory gave Republicans complete control of statewide offices and government for the first time since Reconstruction.
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November 8, 2022
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   Simpson: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Blemur: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Tie: 50% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Naomi Esther Blemur, accountant[2]
- J.R. Gaillot, policy consultant, candidate for Florida's 3rd congressional district in 2012 and state representative in 2016
- Ryan Morales, marketing consultant[3]
Blemur
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
Morales
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
Withdrawn
- Adam Christensen, nominee for Florida's 3rd congressional district in 2020[4]
Declined
- Gary Farmer, state senator and former Florida Senate minority leader[5]
- Nikki Fried, incumbent commissioner of agriculture[5] (ran for governor)[1]
- Melissa McKinlay, Palm Beach County commissioner and former mayor of Palm Beach County[6]
Endorsements
Naomi Esther Blemur
State legislators
Shevrin Jones, state senator[7]Annette Taddeo, state senator[8][7]
Local officials
Daniella Levine Cava, mayor of Miami-Dade County[7]
Newspapers
J.R. Gaillot
County officials
- Nan Rich, Broward County commissioner[10]
Ryan Morales
Declined to endorse
Newspapers
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Naomi Esther Blemur | 699,275 | 50.35% | |
| Democratic | Ryan Morales | 420,609 | 30.29% | |
| Democratic | J.R. Gaillot | 268,863 | 19.36% | |
| Total votes | 1,338,747 | 100.0% | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- James Shaw, businessman[14]
- Wilton Simpson, president of the Florida Senate[15]
Simpson
- Simpson—50–60%
- Simpson—60–70%
- Simpson—70–80%
Did not qualify
- Bob White[16]
Withdrawn
- Chuck Nadd, Afghanistan veteran[17][18]
- Richard Olle, agriculture inspector[14]
Declined
- Matt Caldwell, Lee County property appraiser, former state representative, and nominee for commissioner of agriculture in 2018[19]
- Matt Gaetz, U.S. representative for Florida's 1st congressional district[20] (running for reelection)[21]
- Tom Rooney, former U.S. representative for Florida's 17th congressional district[22]
Endorsements
Wilton Simpson
Former U.S. Executive Branch officials
- Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States (2017–2021)[23]
U.S. representatives
- John Rutherford, U.S. representative for Florida's 4th congressional district[24]
- Michael Waltz, U.S. representative for Florida's 6th congressional district[25]
Statewide officials
- Pam Bondi, former Florida Attorney General[26]
- Richard Corcoran, former Education Commissioner of Florida[27]
- Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida[28]
- Ashley Moody, Florida Attorney General[29]
- Jimmy Patronis, Chief Financial Officer of Florida[29]
- Chris Sprowls, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives[30]
Sheriffs
- 59 sheriffs[31]
Individuals
- Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform[32]
Organizations
- Associated Builders and Contractors[33]
- Associated Industries of Florida[33]
- Florida Chamber of Commerce[34]
- Florida Farm Bureau FarmPAC[35]
- Florida Forestry Association[35]
- Florida Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge[36]
- Florida Police Benevolent Association[37]
- Florida Professional Firefighters[38]
- National Federation of Independent Business[39]
- NRA Political Victory Fund[40][41]
Newspapers
Declined to endorse
Newspapers
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Wilton Simpson | 1,048,774 | 64.71% | |
| Republican | James Shaw | 571,957 | 35.29% | |
| Total votes | 1,620,731 | 100.0% | ||
General election
Post-primary endorsements
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Naomi Esther Blemur (D) |
Wilton Simpson (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Florida[43] | October 17–24, 2022 | 622 (LV) | ± 4.7% | 39% | 44% | 1%[b] | 17% |
| Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy[44] | September 26–28, 2022 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 34% | 47% | – | 19% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Wilton Simpson | 4,510,644 | 59.30% | +9.34% | |
| Democratic | Naomi Esther Blemur | 3,095,786 | 40.70% | −9.34% | |
| Total votes | 7,606,430 | 100.0% | |||
| Republican gain from Democratic | |||||
By county
| County | Wilton Simpson
Republican |
Naomi Esther Blemur
Democratic | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | |
| Alachua | 39,810 | 42.53% | 53,785 | 57.47% |
| Baker | 9,328 | 88.92% | 1,162 | 11.08% |
| Bay | 51,333 | 77.61% | 14,810 | 22.39% |
| Bradford | 8,089 | 81.09% | 1,886 | 18.91% |
| Brevard | 167,640 | 64.00% | 94,301 | 36.00% |
| Broward | 238,801 | 40.88% | 345,307 | 59.12% |
| Calhoun | 4,044 | 84.51% | 741 | 15.49% |
| Charlotte | 63,610 | 70.09% | 27,142 | 29.91% |
| Citrus | 56,660 | 76.06% | 17.835 | 23.94% |
| Clay | 66,563 | 74.84% | 22,383 | 25.16% |
| Collier | 114,378 | 71.59% | 45,380 | 28.41% |
| Columbia | 18,399 | 78.72% | 4,974 | 21.28% |
| DeSoto | 6,429 | 75.33% | 2,105 | 24.67% |
| Dixie | 5,270 | 86.62% | 814 | 13.38% |
| Duval | 177,499 | 54.93% | 145,624 | 45.07% |
| Escambia | 73,499 | 64.50% | 40,454 | 35.50% |
| Flagler | 38,247 | 66.52% | 19,249 | 33.48% |
| Franklin | 3,098 | 72.91% | 1,452 | 27.09% |
| Gadsden | 6,478 | 37.77% | 10,672 | 62.23% |
| Gilchrist | 6,736 | 86.78% | 1,026 | 13.22% |
| Glades | 3,023 | 80.33% | 740 | 19.67% |
| Gulf | 5,018 | 78.99% | 1,335 | 21.01% |
| Hamilton | 3,079 | 72.76% | 1,153 | 27.24% |
| Hardee | 4,422 | 82.44% | 942 | 17.56% |
| Hendry | 5,988 | 73.88% | 2,117 | 26.12% |
| Hernando | 55,997 | 71.02% | 22,855 | 28.98% |
| Highlands | 29,116 | 74.43% | 10,002 | 25.57% |
| Hillsborough | 260,234 | 54.93% | 213,504 | 45.07% |
| Holmes | 6,136 | 91.32% | 583 | 8.68% |
| Indian River | 51,035 | 67.92% | 24,109 | 32.08% |
| Jackson | 12,192 | 75.38% | 3,983 | 24.62% |
| Jefferson | 4,287 | 61.06% | 2,734 | 38.94% |
| Lafayette | 2,584 | 89.63% | 299 | 10.37% |
| Lake | 104,894 | 66.79% | 52,147 | 33.21% |
| Lee | 181,963 | 68.04% | 85,482 | 31.96% |
| Leon | 49,379 | 42.92% | 65,677 | 57.08% |
| Levy | 13,864 | 78.12% | 3,882 | 21.88% |
| Liberty | 2,168 | 84.06% | 411 | 15.94% |
| Madison | 4,640 | 67.02% | 2,283 | 32.98% |
| Manatee | 109,873 | 65.16% | 58,736 | 34.84% |
| Marion | 105,861 | 69.20% | 47,126 | 30.80% |
| Martin | 52,322 | 69.12% | 23,379 | 30.88% |
| Miami-Dade | 376,524 | 54.17% | 318,561 | 45.83% |
| Monroe | 19,946 | 60.05% | 13,267 | 39.95% |
| Nassau | 36,084 | 77.01% | 10,773 | 22.99% |
| Okaloosa | 60,613 | 76.13% | 19,007 | 23.87% |
| Okeechobee | 8,588 | 80.45% | 2,087 | 19.55% |
| Orange | 181,911 | 45.64% | 216,682 | 54.36% |
| Osceola | 52,117 | 51.57% | 48,938 | 48.43% |
| Palm Beach | 269,778 | 50.65% | 262,871 | 49.35% |
| Pasco | 147,319 | 66.69% | 73,573 | 33.31% |
| Pinellas | 234,907 | 56.67% | 179,627 | 43.33% |
| Polk | 145,892 | 64.74% | 79,457 | 35.26% |
| Putnam | 19,845 | 75.72% | 6,365 | 24.28% |
| St. Johns | 98,247 | 69.58% | 42,943 | 30.42% |
| St. Lucie | 69,947 | 58.54% | 49,540 | 41.46% |
| Santa Rosa | 59,108 | 79.51% | 15,231 | 20.49% |
| Sarasota | 130,239 | 60.94% | 83,493 | 39.06% |
| Seminole | 99,283 | 55.62% | 79,234 | 44.38% |
| Sumter | 64,379 | 73.63% | 23,052 | 26.37% |
| Suwannee | 13,460 | 83.01% | 2,754 | 16.99% |
| Taylor | 6,201 | 82.47% | 1,318 | 17.53% |
| Union | 3,923 | 87.39% | 566 | 12.61% |
| Volusia | 140,965 | 63.72% | 80,266 | 36.28% |
| Wakulla | 10,869 | 73.24% | 3,971 | 26.76% |
| Walton | 28,024 | 81.72% | 6,267 | 18.28% |
| Washington | 7,679 | 84.94% | 1,362 | 15.06% |
| Totals | 4,510,644 | 59.30% | 3,095,786 | 40.70% |
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Duval (largest municipality: Jacksonville)
- Hillsborough (largest municipality: Tampa)
- Pinellas (largest municipality: St. Petersburg)
- Seminole (largest municipality: Sanford)
- Miami-Dade (largest city: Miami)
- Osceola (largest municipality: Kissimmee)
- Palm Beach (largest city: West Palm Beach)
- St. Lucie (largest city: Port St. Lucie)