Dr. Joseph Thornton, ASP 2026 Candidate for Florida House District 10

Dr. Joseph Thornton is a longtime Florida resident, physician, educator, and advocate for justice and community health. A partially retired psychiatrist, Dr. Thornton has spent his career serving those most often overlooked—veterans, individuals with mental illness, and incarcerated populations.

He brings decades of leadership experience, including roles as Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health at the North Florida VA and Medical Executive Director at both Union Correctional Institution and the North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center. In each position, Dr. Thornton has worked to protect the vulnerable, reduce violence, and promote dignity for all.

Locally, he founded the Alachua Area Medical Reserve Corps and has lived in the Gainesville/Alachua area for over 20 years. He is committed to practical, community-based solutions that improve lives across rural and urban areas alike.

Dr. Thornton stands firmly against the death penalty—an issue informed by years providing care on death row and consulting in capital cases.

A teacher of bioethics with a focus on Artificial Intelligence, he believes new technologies must serve justice and human dignity—not replace them.

Dr. Thornton is running to bring thoughtful, hopeful leadership to Tallahassee. He is not a career politician, but a public servant dedicated to working across divides and delivering real solutions for the people of District 10.