Joey Mendoza Atkins
Democrat | Florida
Candidate Profile*
Leans Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Boca Raton, Florida, B.A. Cum Laude (Major in Political Science, Minor in Criminal Justice), -
University of Toledo College of Law, Toledo, Ohio, J.D. and Certificate of International Law, -
Milano School of Policy, Management and Environment, New York City, New York, Masters in Economic Development, -
WORK & MILITARY
Multiple Florida law firms, Trial Attorney
Legal Aid for Florida farm workers, Attorney
UN Global Compact, Policy Advisor
NFL Player and MMA athlete management agencies, Contract Advisor
AFFILIATIONS
Florida Bar, Member
Hillsborough County Bar Association, Member
U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, Bar Admission
US District Court Southern District of Florida, Bar Admission
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 2026-
ENDORSEMENTS*
LIBERAL (8)
Florida LGBTQ+ Democractic Caucus
Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida DECF
*Democratic Public Education Caucus of Florida
JAX LGBT Chamber of Commerce
*Florida Democratic Agricultural Caucus
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (7)
Florida Agricultural Caucus
Florida Environmental Caucus
Seminole County Chamber of Commerce Straw Poll Winner
Florida Alliance for Retired Americans (FLARA)
Gay Valimont
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)
ActBlue (2026)
Joey David Mendoza Atkins (2026)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
ActBlue (2026)
Joey David Mendoza Atkins (2026)
OTHER INFORMATION
Candidate Q&A. Osceola News-Gazette. 5 Aug 2026.
Candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026.
Candidate's B grade from pro-marijuana group, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Agree
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Like KY Gov. Beshear, I support abortion access in cases involving rape, incest & to protect the life of the pregnant woman. I also support increasing healthcare access to reduce abortion rates - the abortion rate declined after MA‘s GOP Gov. Romney implemented health care reform & Catholic Bishops in Europe support healthcare access for similar reasons. I believe in the sanctity of life, so also support affordable health care to reduce maternal mortality & reduce veteran & farmer suicide rates.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Strongly Agree
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Neutral
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
I support implementing the will of the majority of voters in Florida, who voted in favor of Amendment 2 in 2020, to increase the state's minimum wage incrementally until reaching $15 per hour in September 2026.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
I agree with Gov. DeSantis that the massive overhead within FDACS executive management is inefficient and padded: - Consolidate overlapping grants and specialized project oversight into a unified agency model to prevent duplicate staff tasks and red tape - Convert inspection vehicles to high-efficiency fleets to cut long-term fuel costs and operational spending - Modernize to paperless, digital compliance tracking for registrations, licenses, and consumer complaints to reduce overhead waste
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
Protection of Freedom: It protects individuals and religious groups so they can practice their beliefs freely without government control or coercion.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Disagree
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Disagree
Only if those particular people have explicitly consented and opted in for the stated purpose of research in the public benefit. I am totally against sprawling federal and state government surveillance, including data surveillance.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
I agree with Churches for Middle East Peace on this: Peace in the Middle East strengthens U.S. national security and is therefore of vital U.S. interest. CMEP works to encourage U.S. policies that actively promote a just, lasting, and comprehensive resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, ensuring security, human rights, and religious freedom for all the people of the region.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Neutral
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Agree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Neutral
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Strongly Disagree
Gambling is an addictive vice.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Christian, with Jewish family members. My mom, Erika, and her husband, Gary, live in Loxahatchee, Palm Beach County close to where I grew up. She is a real estate agent and firearms specialist and trainer, while Gary is a veteran and retired law-enforcement. I have three older step siblings and a younger sister in Dunnellon, Marion County, and two adopted shelter dogs - Maria and Eleanor.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Disagree
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Agree
In his landmark Encyclical 'Laudato Si', Pope Francis calls the earth our "common home" that is crying out due to human abuse and an irresponsible "throwaway culture". I believe we have a profound moral, social, and spiritual duty to protect God's creation.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Nuclear power, combined-cycle natural gas & hydroelectricity are the most reliable, high-capacity energy sources capable of supplying the growing demand for electricity. They enable long-term American energy independence vs dependence on foreign oil
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Moderate
Moderate/Independent/Libertarian.
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
As a practicing attorney who studied criminal justice, the goal of the criminal justice system should be to protect public safety while ensuring fairness and upholding the rule of law.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
To protect church goers and children from criminals with guns, while protecting the Second Amendment, bipartisan federal and public consensus supports specific targeted restrictions that balance public safety with Second Amendment rights. A primary example of enacted bipartisan federal legislation is the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was sponsored by Senator Marco Rubio and signed into law in June 2022, and for state legislation the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act under Gov. Scott.
