Joey Mendoza Atkins seeks agriculture commissioner post

Joey Mendoza Atkins, a Miami attorney, is running as the Democratic nominee for Florida agriculture commissioner in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Republican Wilton Simpson.

Atkins said on his campaign website that he wants to support farmers and ranchers, protect consumers and conserve farmland and natural habitats.

Candidate information

Party: Democratic

Residence: Miami

Education:

Bachelor of science in political science with a minor in criminal justice, Florida Atlantic University
Juris doctor, University of Toledo College of Law, 2013
Master of arts in policy, management and environment, The New School, Milano School of Policy, Management and Environment, 2018

Experience and public service

Atkins was the 2024 Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida's 26th Congressional District, according to his response in the News4JAX voter's guide. He has also worked as a legal aid attorney, a policy consultant at the UN Global Compact and an attorney at Barnes Trial Group, according to his campaign materials and The Bradenton Times. BallotReady lists additional experience as a sports agent.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Atkins' own responses to voter guides and his campaign website.

Agriculture: Atkins said he would support Florida's farmers and ranchers and protect migrant farm workers. He said he wants to modernize guest worker programs to help farmers address labor shortages and lower grocery prices. He said his philosophy centers on finding creative and dynamic ways to support family farmers without putting them at a competitive disadvantage, according to his response in the Florida Phoenix.

Consumer protection: Atkins said consumer protection must remain a top priority. He said the department should enforce laws against fraud, deceptive trade practices and unsafe products, and that Floridians deserve confidence that food is safe and fuel pumps are accurate, according to his response in the Orlando Sentinel.

Economy and cost of living: Atkins said he would fight for Florida consumers against what he called the "Tariff Tax" and support farmers, families and small businesses he said have been hardest hit. He also called for delivering on promised tariff relief checks.

Environment: Atkins said he would implement a statewide moratorium on data centers to protect Florida's environment and water resources. He also said he would protect farmland from development and invest in long-term environmental stewardship.

Public safety: Atkins said he would push for cannabis legalization to support veterans and help address the opioid crisis. He also said he would oppose Flock surveillance cameras, calling them an invasion of privacy.