Race Analysis: Florida Agricultural Commissioner

The race for Florida Agricultural Commissioner is one the most unattractive contests on this year’s ballot with neither party putting up a suitable candidate for one of the state’s most essential cabinet positions.

Let’s be clear: Republican candidate, Senate President Wilton Simpson, who is leaving the state legislature because of term limits, is as likely to win his race as any candidate this cycle. He’s a powerful member of the party that has dominated statewide elections for two decades and is sitting on a mountain of campaign cash, while his opponent doesn’t have enough resources to mount an effective countywide campaign, let alone one that spans the state.

That said, throughout his career, Simpson has been a reliable soldier for Big Sugar, regularly voting for and sponsoring hamfisted legislation that benefits the industry’s bottom line at the expense of the environment and the health and welfare of residents. He’s also been a friend to gun manufacturers as a vocal proponent and reliable vote for anything that makes it easier for Floridians to gain access to a firearm. These are not good qualities for someone looking to head up what is essentially the regulating arm of both industries.

Democratic candidate Naomi Blemur, however, not only lacks the resources to mount anything approaching an effective campaign, as Florida Democrats seemingly abandoned any hope of winning the contest even before the primary, but she has no relevant experience to head the statewide agency even if she were to somehow manage to pull off an upset victory.

There’s not much to analyze here, folks. Voters are likely to turn out strictly along party lines and there’s little to rally independents or frustrated Republicans to Blemur, who not only lacks Simpson’s coffers but his far superior name recognition or experience in public policy.