Joseph Thornton

Joseph Thornton is the American Solidarity Party of Florida candidate for Florida State Senate District 6 in the November 3, 2026 general election, facing incumbent Jennifer Bradley (R) and Democrat Jason Bellamy-Fults.[1][2] A physician, he described himself in a Ballotpedia survey as a recently retired psychiatrist.[3]

Joseph Thornton earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1976 and an M.D. from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio in 1981.[2] His career experience includes working as a physician and in health care administration, and he has been affiliated with the Catholic Medical Association, the Florida Psychiatric Society and the Alachua County Medical Society.[2] In a Ballotpedia survey, he said his career has included serving veterans, people with mental illness and incarcerated populations, with roles as Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health at the North Florida VA and Medical Executive Director at Union Correctional Institution and the North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center.[3]

Thornton said he founded the Alachua Area Medical Reserve Corps in 2006, has lived in the Gainesville and Alachua area for over 20 years, and opposes the death penalty.[3] He said the protection and promotion of human dignity is the core issue shaping his approach to other issues.[3]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.