Who's running in Florida's 18th congressional district
3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
3 candidates · ballot order · Scott Franklin currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Economic growth.
Opposition to what he calls socialism.
Protecting constitutional rights.
Standing up for Christian values.
Strengthening national security.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 18th District since January 2021; re-elected in 2024 with 65.3%.
U.S. Navy veteran.
Lakeland city commissioner before Congress; businessman based in Lakeland.
Advanced from the August 18, 2026 Republican primary.
Arguments in favor
A telephone town hall reaches more constituents than a room does in a district this large: the format lets him "reach thousands of people efficiently and effectively across eight counties at a time", and his office "always welcomes this kind of respectful dialogue and civic involvement."
— A spokesperson for Scott Franklin's office, quoted by The Ledger
He is "a lifelong conservative Republican who knows that freedom isn't free", a Navy veteran who has "experienced first-hand the commitment and sacrifice of the men and women who wear the American uniform", running on economic growth, national security and a conservative agenda.
— Scott Franklin's campaign
Arguments against
He will not face his constituents in person, only by phone, where "the organizer has the power to control the speech of his constituents" — which protesters outside his Lakeland office called incompatible with representative democracy.
— Demonstrators organised by the Polk County Democratic Executive Committee and Indivisible Polk, reported by The Ledger
He voted for a spending bill that extends tax breaks while directing cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, and backed the Department of Government Efficiency's reductions — more than 100 residents turned out against it chanting "Hey hey, ho ho, Elon Musk has got to go."
— Protesters at his Lakeland office, reported by The Ledger
What we couldn’t verify
His campaign site lists themes but names no specific legislative achievement; what he claims to have delivered for the district was not established from the sources found.
His committee assignments were not established from the sources found.
No Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee page about him by name was found; the criticism above comes from constituents and the county party rather than from his opponent.
Property insurance stability, which he names first among his priorities.
Veterans' health care access.
Property tax relief.
Addressing the middle-class squeeze so families can afford homes and start businesses.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Former Lake Wales city commissioner.
Small business owner; operates a local restaurant.
Former manager of Eagle Ridge Mall, which he says grew from 35 to 71 stores during a three-year revitalisation.
Won the August 18, 2026 Democratic primary.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Gibson by name could be found: not from Scott Franklin or his campaign, not from the National Republican Congressional Committee, not from his Democratic primary opponent, and not from Polk County news coverage. Because no case against him exists on the record, none is presented for him either, rather than showing his own campaign's case unanswered.
His campaign has drawn very little coverage beyond his own social media; his positions on health care, taxation and immigration were not stated in material available.
His fundraising totals were not reported in material available.
No-party-affiliation candidate for the 18th District, qualified for the November 3, 2026 general election.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Simmons by name could be found, and no published case for her beyond her own campaign site. As a candidate with no party organisation behind her she has drawn very little coverage. Because no case against her exists on the record, none is presented for her either.
Her fundraising and any endorsements were not reported in material available.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Florida held its primary on August 18, 2026. Three candidates are on the November ballot: Republican incumbent Scott Franklin, Democrat Curtis Gibson and Deva Simmons, running with no party affiliation. Florida enacted a new congressional map in May 2026 that reworked most of the state's districts, this one among them; it is centred on Polk County and the central Florida heartland, and the Cook Partisan Voter Index rates it R+14. Roster from the Florida qualifying lists as reported by Politics1 and Wikipedia. Arguments are shown for Franklin, a sitting member whose record and accessibility have been publicly protested. No published criticism of Gibson or Simmons by name was found, so neither column is filled for them; their positions are in their profiles.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Florida ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Florida Division of Elections.