U.S. House · Florida's 18th District
Deva Simmons
CandidateIND
- Race
- U.S. House · Florida's 18th District
- Result
- Scott Franklin, projected winner
- Opponents
- Scott Franklin (R); Curtis Gibson (D)
- Research
- Basic
Party linenone
No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.
Said vs. did2 statements · 0 votes
I will work to protect and restore ACA subsidies while addressing the root causes of rising healthcare costs, including insurance practices that can leave families paying more for inadequate care.
Expand public health coverage
Compare statements with votes ›On the ballotU.S. House · 18
2026-11-03
| Scott Franklin R | incumbent |
| Curtis Gibson D | challenger |
| Deva Simmons IND | challenger |
Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
I will work to protect and restore ACA subsidies while addressing the root causes of rising healthcare costs, including insurance practices that can leave families paying more for inadequate care.
Says she will work to protect and restore Affordable Care Act subsidies and address the root causes of rising healthcare costs.[3][4]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
I support raising the federal minimum wage while helping small and local businesses adapt.
Supports raising the federal minimum wage, which she notes has been $7.25 since 2009, while helping small and local businesses adapt.[3][4]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Biography
Deva Simmons, a retired educator with no party affiliation, lost the November 3, 2026 election for Florida's 18th Congressional District to Scott Franklin. A Brooklyn native who has lived in Polk County since 2002, she describes more than two decades in education.[1][2]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Simmons was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, moved to Florida in 1995, and has lived in Polk County since 2002.[2] She graduated from Erasmus Hall High School, earned a bachelor's degree from Columbia College in 1990, and received a graduate degree from Adelphi University in 1995.[2] She has worked in education for more than two decades as a teacher, mentor, and advocate for students and families, and is listed as retired as of 2026.[2]
Simmons has served on the board of the Boys & Girls Club of Lakeland and has volunteered with the AGB Museum of Art, kidsPACK, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and Polk County Schools.[2] Her campaign materials emphasized public education, teacher pay and affordability.[2] She received 3% of the vote to Scott Franklin's 50.3%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[1]
In their own words
Priorities
- Says she will oppose efforts to defund public schools and support legislation to increase teacher compensation and school resources.[3]
- Says she will work to protect and restore Affordable Care Act subsidies and address rising healthcare costs.[3]
- Supports raising the federal minimum wage while helping small and local businesses adapt, and supports worker protections and the right to organize and collectively bargain.[3]
Campaign money$22K raised · 77% from individuals · FEC through 2026-06-30
Totals this cycle
Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
Who gave
- Individuals $17K
- PACs & committees $5,000
Largest committee contributions
Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗
Profile: /people/deva-simmons
Compare all 3 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.U.S. House · Florida's 18th District results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 2.Deva Simmons · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
- 3.Florida's 18th Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
- 4.Issues & Platform · Deva Simmons for Congress Candidate's own words