DeSantis’ Lieutenant Governor Launches Bid For Florida Governor: REPORT:
Republican Lt. Gov. Jay Collins launched his bid for Florida governor to replace Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday, according to a report.
Collins cited his military experience in his announcement of his candidacy for the governor’s mansion, Fox News Digital reported.
DeSantis will leave the governor’s mansion at the end of his second term next year. Collins, a former state senator and Army Green Beret, was appointed lieutenant governor by DeSantis to replace Jeanette Nuñez after she resigned to become president of Florida International University.
Collins’ announcement comes after months of speculation about when he would enter the Republican field after Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds received an endorsement from President Donald Trump before announcing his candidacy for governor. (RELATED: Biden’s inner circle must be held accountable for Afghanistan withdrawal)
Although Donalds currently appears to be in a strong position, attention remains focused on Tallahassee, where Gov. Ron DeSantis has not indicated who he would support to succeed him. Speculation is growing that Collins — appointed to the position by DeSantis in August — could enter the race with the governor’s support.
The Sunshine State is now poised for a second Republican cross-party battleground just two and a half years after DeSantis challenged Trump in his bid to retake the White House.
A Fabrizio, Lee & Associates poll of 600 likely Republican primary voters conducted Jan. 4-6 shows Donalds leading a hypothetical four-way race with 39 percent, ahead of Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis with 26 percent, while James Fishback and Paul Renner, the former speaker of the Florida House, are in the low single digits and nearly a third of voters remain undecided.
In a separate four-way scenario that trades DeSantis for Collins, Donalds’ lead grows significantly. In this matchup, Donalds had 45% support, with Collins, Fishback and Renner each getting single-digit support.
BREAKING: DeSantis hesitates to endorse Lt. Gov. Jay Collins for governor pic.twitter.com/bS8ix6cjSb
– Jeanne (@joanfromdc) January 12, 2026
The possibility of Collins joining the contest has increased interest in who DeSantis might ultimately choose to support and whether that decision will be driven by political strategy rather than personal considerations. The Daily Caller has previously reported that underlying tensions remain, with some observers saying that if DeSantis refuses to support Donalds, it could reflect the governor’s desire to chart an independent political course. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Trump and DeSantis could be destined for a head-to-head rematch in key GOP primary)
Tensions between Donalds and DeSantis date back to 2023, when the two clashed over the standards of Florida’s African-American history, and were further exacerbated after Donalds supported Trump in the 2024 presidential race — a decision Donalds acknowledged damaged their relationship.
These tensions intensified as Donalds became the leading contender in the race, following Trump’s support and encouragement to run in February, to which Donalds acted within days.
Multiple sources said this dynamic could set the stage for another proxy battle echoing past conflicts between DeSantis and Trump, noting that the governor has expressed interest in shaping his own succession while publicly questioning whether Donalds would be his preferred choice.
Honored to serve as Florida’s Lieutenant Governor and ready to fight every day for the people of our great state! 🇺🇸#DeedsNotWords https://t.co/MnhfsE5lbg
– Jay Collins (@JayCollinsFL) August 15, 2025
Insiders said any challenge from the DeSantis camp to Donalds would likely come from Collins, who delayed his gubernatorial announcement as he worked to secure the governor’s endorsement. Many expected him to enter the race in the fall, but the slow fundraising cycle and uncertainty over DeSantis’ support pushed the timeline back several months. (RELATED: Ron DeSantis Quips Socialist’s Victory Will Send Florida Property Values to the Moon)
Many close to the Collins camp rejected the notion that the endorsement was in jeopardy, pointing out that DeSantis had held joint teletown halls to showcase Collins’ leadership. Meanwhile, Fishback quietly entered the race, attracting the attention of anti-Donalds and adding a new dimension to the contest.
