Deva Simmons
Candidate for Florida 18th Congressional District · Independent
On the 2026 ballotChallenger · Florida 18th Congressional District · Nov 3 General
Ballot status source: Florida Division of Elections — Candidate Tracking System, 2026 election extract: United States Representative 018, status 'Qualified' after the 08/18/2026 primary · read Sep 24, 2026
The District
What Florida 18th Congressional District covers
Covers parts of Polk County and Osceola County.
182 precincts · District lines: Congressional lines: enacted plan "Plan EOGPCRP2026 (Congressional)" (HB 1-D, 2026 Special Session D; passed Apr 29, 2026; signed by Gov. DeSantis May 4, 2026); 2026 status: In effect for the 2026 elections: Leon County Circuit Court denied a preliminary injunction May 26, 2026; Florida Supreme Court let the map stand June 10, 2026. Official file https://www.edr.state.fl.us/Content/redistricting/2026redistricting/EOGPCRP2026.zip
Results
Certified results for Florida 18th Congressional District
Representative in Congress District 18
2024 General Election · Nov 5, 2024| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scott FranklinRepublican | Republican | 225,171 | 65.3% |
| Andrea Doria KaleDemocrat | Democrat | 119,637 | 34.7% |
Official results (Florida Division of Elections precinct-level file, compiled from county SOE submissions) · Florida Department of State, Division of Elections — Precinct-Level Election…
Representative in Congress District 18
2022 General Election · Nov 8, 2022| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scott FranklinRepublican | Republican | 167,429 | 74.3% |
| Keith R. Hayden JrNo party affiliation | No party affiliation | 56,647 | 25.1% |
| Write-in | 1,310 | 0.6% |
Official results (Florida Division of Elections precinct-level file, compiled from county SOE submissions) · Florida Department of State, Division of Elections — Precinct-Level Election…
Representative in Congress District 18
2020 General Election · Nov 3, 2020| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian MastRepublican | Republican | 253,286 | 56.3% |
| Pam KeithDemocrat | Democrat | 186,674 | 41.5% |
| K. W. MillerNo party affiliation | No party affiliation | 9,760 | 2.2% |
Official results (Florida Division of Elections precinct-level file, compiled from county SOE submissions) · Florida Department of State, Division of Elections — Precinct-Level Election…
Key Votes
The record
No congressional voting record
Simmons, Deva has not served in Congress: no entry in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (bioguide.congress.gov) under this name for FL, checked 2026-09-24 against the catalog's bioguide linkage. Other public offices, if any, not compiled here.
Sep 24, 2026 · Official · Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress · source
Newest first. A close vote was decided by 5% of the votes cast or less (or 10 votes or fewer, under a fifth of the votes). Broke with party: voted against most of their party, where the record gives the party split.
Their Money
Campaign finance
- Last Change
- Profile updated · Sep 24
- Raised
- $21,932cycle to date through Jun 30
- Cash on Hand
- $5,764cycle to date through Jun 30
- Spent
- $16,168cycle to date through Jun 30
- Debts Owed
- $0cycle to date through Jun 30
- Next Report Due
- Q3 Report · Oct 15
View on FEC.govFEC, cycle to date through Jun 30, 2026
Top Payees
Who the campaign paid most, as its filing reports it.
- Beauty Mark Llc$6,550.00
- Josato Group Llc$1,269.00
- Good Guys Signs$675.11
- Winter Haven Chamber Of Commerce$235.00
- 4Allpromos$233.67
Campaign finance — Citizens For Deva Simmons: July Quarterly 2026, through Jun 30, 2026
Jun 30, 2026 · Official · Federal Election CommissionFinance Reports
Campaign finance — Citizens For Deva Simmons: July Quarterly 2026, through Jun 30, 2026
Raised $21,932.18 this election cycle (as reported) · spent $16,168.29 · cash on hand $5,763.89 · debts owed by the committee $0.00 — through Jun 30, 2026. Where the money came from (cycle to date, as reported): Individuals $16,912.18 (77%); PACs and other political committees $5,000.00 (23%); Other receipts (refunds, offsets, other) $20.00 (0%). Where it went (itemized operating expenditures this cycle, FEC-processed through Sep 20, 2026): media and advertising $6,550.00; other $4,970.13; digital $1,269.00; direct mail $255.53.
Jun 30, 2026 · Official · Federal Election Commission
Money shows as the filings named here report it. Payees are who the campaign paid; individual contributors are not shown.
In Their Words
What they have said, on the record
“Florida's education and workforce crisis is the defining issue of our time. Rising costs, teacher shortages, and underfunded schools are robbing an entire generation of opportunity. As a career educator, I have experienced this challenge firsthand. I have taught in under-resourced classrooms, advocated for equitable funding, and mentored students who had no other champion. I understand not just the policy — but the human cost of getting it wrong. In Congress, I will fight for fully funded public schools, competitive teacher pay, and workforce programs that create real pathways to prosperity for every family in District 18.”
“I am running because the people of District 18 deserve leadership that truly listens and truly shows up. For too long, families in our district have felt unheard and left behind by politics as usual. Representation should be about people, not parties, personal agendas or power. Working families are struggling to afford groceries, housing, and healthcare. Educators feel unsupported, seniors worry about retirement and prescription costs, and young people question whether the American Dream is still within reach. I am not just a candidate — I am a servant. My more than two decades in education and community service have shown me what real leadership looks like, and I am ready to bring that to Congress.”
In the News
Press coverage
- Meet the candidates: Questionnaire for US District 18Jul 30, 2026 · Press · Tampa Bay 28
Headlines link to the original reporting, captured on the date shown.
Reach Them
Websites and accounts
Campaign website and social accounts
Campaign site: https://www.devasimmons.com/
Sep 24, 2026 · Self-published · Candidate's own channels · source
The 2026 Field
Who else is running for Florida 18th Congressional District
- Scott FranklinRepublican · Incumbent · On the 2026 ballot
- Curtis GibsonDemocrat · On the 2026 ballot
The Paper Trail
Filings, results and exhibits
On the Nov. 3, 2026 general election ballot for U.S. Representative, FL-18 — No Party Affiliation
Listed as “Simmons, Deva”, No Party Affiliation. Other candidates in the race: Franklin, Scott (Republican Party); Gibson, Curtis (Democratic Party).
Sep 24, 2026 · Official · State election authority (certified candidate list) · sourceU.S. Representative · FL-18
Independent · Candidate · On the 2026 ballot
Sep 19, 2026 · OSINT
Not on file for Deva yet: Advertising, Polls. Coverage varies by state and office.
File read Sep 25, 2026. Each item names its source. Record ID p_x4mqtzegg.
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