ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — Lt. Gov. Jay Collins visited Pinellas County on Monday to host a news conference to dispel rumors that he’s dropping out of Florida’s gubernatorial race.

“We are not suspending our campaign,” Collins said.

After canceling an event in Southwest Florida, rumors started to swirl that Collins would exit the race.

A recent Emerson College poll showed Collins trailing by double digits behind the leading republican candidate, Rep. Byron Donalds, who is endorsed by President Trump.

“Polling indicates a serious risk of David Jolly becoming the next governor of Florida if Byron is the republican nominee,” Collins said.

The Emerson poll shows a tight general election race between Democrat David Jolly and Donalds, if he’s awarded the republican nomination.

Collins is banking on a seven-figure statewide ad buy about his background to close the gap between him and Donalds ahead of the republican primary.

While in Sarasota for a campaign visit, Donalds said he is confident that he will be the nominee.

“In Florida, we built a very strong foundation of being a common-sense conservative state, and that’s not going to change,” Donalds said.

A democrat has not been elected as governor in Florida since Lawton Chiles in 1990 and re-elected to a second term.

In a race that’s quickly heating up, Donalds responded to increased attacks from the Collins campaign.

“It’s kind of sad to see desperation, but this is what happens in other campaigns when things are not going well,” Donalds said.

Collins has recently taken aim at Donalds’ history with marijuana, accusing him of not being upfront about his past.

“Bryon Donalds sold drugs to people, to children, and now he believes he is fit to be the governor of the state of Florida,” Collins said.

Donalds pushed back by denying he ever kept his past hidden. Collins said the congressman only talked about possessing weed and never spoke about selling it until recently questioned.

“I’ve been very clear. Very direct. Very open,” Donalds said.  “We don’t just judge people based upon the mistakes they make when they’re very young. We judge them over their entire life.”

Former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner wants more answers about a close friend of Donalds, Rep. Cory Mills, from Central Florida. Mills is being investigated by the House Ethics Committee after claims of sexual misconduct and dating violence.

“The clear point of what we voted for two months ago is that the investigation move forward. I believe Congressman Mills is in front of the ethics committee. That’s going through its process right now. We’ll see what the ethics committee comes back with,” Donalds said.

Democratic Gubernatorial candidate David Jolly released a statement about the recent war of words:

“We are building a coalition of Democrats, independents, and Republicans, ready to change the direction of Florida. My Republican friends are having a hard family conversation right now, and I welcome the November contest against whomever they choose to nominate.”

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.