Florida’s incoming legislative leaders have thrown their support behind three Republican Cabinet members seeking election this year, signaling a united front among GOP leadership as the 2026 campaign season intensifies.
Senate President-designate Jim Boyd and House Speaker-designate Sam Garrison jointly endorsed Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, and Attorney General James Uthmeier, aligning the Legislature’s future leadership with Republicans who are seeking to retain their statewide offices.
The endorsements come one day after Boyd and Garrison announced their support for Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds in Florida’s race for governor, further demonstrating the Legislature’s early effort to unify behind the GOP ticket.
Ingoglia praised for government accountability
Boyd cited Ingoglia’s record of government oversight, highlighting audits of local government spending and efforts to recover state funds related to immigration enforcement.
“Taxpayers work hard to earn their income, and they deserve to know that state resources are well spent,” Boyd said. “As Chief Financial Officer, Blaise Ingoglia has taken government accountability to a new level.”
Garrison described Ingoglia as a “straight-talking, no-nonsense steward of the taxpayer’s dollar,” praising his work identifying fraud, waste, and abuse across state and local government.
Ingoglia was appointed Chief Financial Officer in 2025 and is seeking his first statewide election. He faces Republican Frank Collige in the Aug. 18 primary, while Democrats Annette Taddeo and Earle Ford are competing for their party’s nomination.
Simpson earns support for agriculture leadership
Boyd praised Simpson’s leadership on agriculture, conservation, national security, and private property rights.
“Wilton Simpson is the steady, principled leader Florida needs as our Commissioner of Agriculture,” Boyd said.
Garrison pointed to Simpson’s decades of experience in Florida agriculture and his business background, calling him uniquely qualified to continue leading one of Florida’s largest state agencies.
Simpson, a longtime Pasco County egg farmer and former Florida Senate President, is seeking another term as Agriculture Commissioner. He faces Republican challenger Matt Taylor, while Democrats Joey Mendoza Atkins and Don Prichard, along with write-in candidate K.C. Gibson, are also on the ballot.
Uthmeier receives backing from incoming legislative leaders
Both legislative leaders also endorsed Attorney General James Uthmeier, who was appointed to the office in 2025.
Boyd described Uthmeier as “a principled conservative” committed to public safety and constitutional protections.
“James Uthmeier has locked up criminals, combatted fraud and protected vulnerable Floridians,” Boyd said.
Garrison, a former prosecutor, said Uthmeier has consistently supported law enforcement agencies and state prosecutors.
Uthmeier has already secured endorsements from the Florida Police Benevolent Association and the Republican Party of Florida.
Unlike Ingoglia and Simpson, Uthmeier is not expected to face a Republican primary and is preparing for a November general election matchup against Democrat José Javier Rodríguez, a former state senator and former Assistant U.S. Labor Department official.
Unified Republican ticket taking shape
The endorsements underscore the growing alignment among Florida’s Republican leadership ahead of the 2026 elections.
With Boyd expected to become Senate President and Garrison preparing to assume the House speakership following the November elections, the endorsements provide another indication that Republican legislative leaders are coalescing around a unified statewide ticket as campaign season accelerates.
Sources
Primary Sources
- Florida Division of Elections – Candidate Information
- Florida Division of Elections – Campaign Finance Database
- Official campaign statements from the Boyd, Garrison, Ingoglia, Simpson, and Uthmeier campaigns.
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- Florida Elections 2026
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