Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins Enters 2026 Governor’s Race, Setting Up GOP Primary Battle

Florida Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins announced his bid for the state’s top office on Monday, formally entering what is shaping up to be a competitive Republican primary race to succeed term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis in 2026.

Collins, who was appointed lieutenant governor just last August, will face U.S. Representative Byron Donalds, who has already secured an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. The early positioning highlights the growing importance of Florida in national Republican politics and suggests a potential proxy battle between DeSantis and Trump loyalists.

“I’m running for Governor because leadership is forged under pressure, not in soundbites,” Collins stated in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “I served over 23 years in the United States military, mainly as a Green Beret, where accountability is real, decisions have consequences, and service comes before self. That experience shaped how I lead and why I believe public office is a public trust.”

Collins brings a compelling personal story to the race. Born in Montana, he has openly discussed overcoming significant life challenges, including experiencing homelessness during his high school years. His military career in the Army Special Forces ended after he lost a leg in combat, though remarkably, he continued serving five additional years as a Green Beret with a prosthetic leg.

Before entering politics, Collins served as chief operating officer of Operation BBQ Relief, a nonprofit that deploys mobile kitchens to disaster zones. His humanitarian work extended internationally last June when he assisted with state-funded flights evacuating Americans from Israel during missile exchanges between Israel and Iran.

Although the lieutenant governor position in Florida carries few official responsibilities beyond standing ready to assume the governorship if necessary, Collins has established himself as a key DeSantis ally since his election to the state Senate in 2022. His close association with the governor could prove advantageous in a primary where DeSantis’s endorsement would carry significant weight.

When questioned about Collins’s candidacy at a news conference Monday, DeSantis called his lieutenant “a good guy” but stopped short of offering an endorsement. “If I get involved in the primary, you’ll know it,” DeSantis remarked, leaving open the possibility of supporting a candidate later.

Political analysts note that Collins’s early announcement allows him valuable time to build name recognition and fundraising networks. Florida’s gubernatorial races have become increasingly expensive, with DeSantis’s 2022 reelection campaign raising over $200 million, setting state records.

The Republican primary field is already crowded. In addition to Collins and Donalds, other declared candidates include Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett, Azoria CEO James Fishback, former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, and activist Bobby Williams. On the Democratic side, Orlando Mayor Jerry Demings and former Republican U.S. Representative David Jolly have announced their candidacies.

Florida’s political landscape has shifted dramatically in recent election cycles, transforming from a quintessential swing state to one increasingly dominated by Republicans. The GOP now controls all statewide elected offices and holds supermajorities in both legislative chambers. This transformation makes the Republican primary particularly consequential in determining who will lead the nation’s third-most populous state.

DeSantis, who was first elected governor in 2018 and reelected by a nearly 20-point margin in 2022, is barred by term limits from seeking a third consecutive term. His political future remains a subject of speculation following his unsuccessful 2024 presidential campaign.

The 2026 gubernatorial race is expected to focus heavily on Florida’s economic growth, ongoing population influx, environmental challenges including hurricane recovery efforts, and the state’s increasingly prominent role in national political and cultural debates.