Neil J. Gillespie
Neil J. Gillespie, 68, is an Ocala (Oak Run) resident, blogger and founder of 'Justice Network,' which he describes as advocacy, education and news-gathering to help people fight injustice. Describing himself as a disabled non-lawyer, he has litigated pro se for years, including a challenge to the constitutionality of the federal Home Equity Conversion (reverse) Mortgage program arising from a foreclosure on his homestead that he took to the Florida Supreme Court and, by certiorari petitions, to the U.S. Supreme Court (Nos. 17-8689 and 18-7225). He has previously run for Ocala mayor and filed federal committees for president. He filed for the U.S. Senate special election in March 2026, paid the $6,060 no-party-affiliation qualifying fee in June 2026 and, as an NPA candidate, advanced directly to the November 3 general election without a primary. He describes himself as a 'working-class capitalist,' says he is fed up with the two-party 'duopoly,' invokes George Washington's warning about political factions, and promises an 'independent voice' in Washington. He has not completed Ballotpedia's candidate survey. His blog (2026) gives his age as 70, says he funds his advocacy from Social Security retirement income, and describes a 1988 traumatic brain injury and a speech impairment.
How they got on the ballot: No primary (NPA candidate advanced directly to the Nov 3 general election)
Sources last checked 2026-09-30. Report an error ↗
Positions on the major issues
Compare with opponents →Each entry describes what the candidate has said or done, and what they say they will do, in neutral terms with sources. The chip shows how that relates to the statement voters rate in the matching tool.
Immigration Leans agree· stated position
Gillespie says he supports secure borders, vetting of immigrants and the lawful removal of people who enter the U.S. illegally, while also supporting a path to citizenship for immigrants who follow the rules and calling immigrants essential to the economy.
"I support the lawful removal of people who enter the United States illegally, but not the spectacle created by activists confronting ICE."
Health care Strongly agrees· stated position
In his 2026 Ballotpedia survey, Gillespie proposes national health coverage with the ability to opt out, citing his own past denial of coverage for a preexisting condition and the health systems of other capitalist democracies.
"I propose national health coverage, with the ability to opt-out."
No public position found on 15 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Taxes & spending, Housing affordability, Abortion, Guns, Social Security & Medicare, Education & school choice, Environment & water, Elections & voting, Crime & policing, Gender identity laws, Energy & utilities, Tariffs & trade, Ukraine, Trump administration, Veterans. This is reported as unknown rather than guessed from party affiliation; these issues are excluded from this candidate's match score.
Other issues this candidate has raised
- Opposition to the two-party 'duopoly' — His central argument is opposition to the two-party system: he invokes George Washington's farewell warning about political factions and says he would give Floridians an 'independent voice' in Washington.
- Justice reform / courts — Founder of 'Justice Network,' described as advocacy, education and news gathering to help people fight injustice; a long-time pro se litigant whose blog and YouTube channel focus on court-system and consumer grievances (including reverse-mortgage foreclosure).
- 'Working-class capitalist' economics — Self-describes as a working-class capitalist with anti-socialist rhetoric.
- Abolish PACER fees — Says 'it's time for Congress to abolish the fees altogether' for federal court records, arguing the judiciary overcharged the public.
- A 'People's union' for pro se litigants — Writes that 'it is time for a People's union to support nonlawyers who appear pro se in court.'
- Health-care costs and dialysis transportation — Criticizes dialysis providers for not arranging patient transportation and asks why 'healthcare in America costs so much.'
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- Qualified as an NPA candidate for U.S. Senate in June 2026; previously a candidate for Ocala mayor per Marion County campaign-finance records.
- Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.Sources: Neil Gillespie - Ballotpedia
- As a pro se litigant, petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court (Nos. 17-8689, 2018, and 18-7225, 2019) challenging the due-process constitutionality of the federal HECM reverse-mortgage program in a foreclosure case on his Ocala home (Reverse Mortgage Solutions v. Gillespie).
- Filed a federal committee, 'Neil J. Gillespie for President,' with the FEC (filing dated January 2025) and maintains a presidential-campaign blog, in addition to his 2026 U.S. Senate committee.
- Paid the $6,060 NPA qualifying fee and, per the Florida Division of Elections, qualified for the Nov 3 general election; a June 2026 candidate guide reported him as withdrawn, but Ballotpedia (Aug 28) and other August 2026 guides list him as an active candidate.