Then Sen. Jay Collins at Tampa International Airport in Tampa, Florida on June 24, 2025. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
The looming 2026 governor’s race isn’t about Ron DeSantis versus Donald Trump, and those hoping for “carnage” between their proxy warriors will be disappointed, according to Lt. Gov. Jay Collins.
Collins, a Tampa Republican recently elevated as DeSantis’ understudy, has long been weighing a run to succeed the governor. Since his August appointment, Collins has stood alongside the governor at a slew of press events, joined him at multiple football games, flown solo to California to extradite a non-citizen accused of vehicular manslaughter, and hosted conferences touting law enforcement crackdowns.
And yet — even though it’s one of the larger, poorly-kept secrets winding throughout the Capitol halls — Collins has not announced his run for governor.
In a sit-down interview with the Florida Phoenix, he said Floridians might not have to wait much longer.
“We’re wrapping up our decision. I expect we’ll have a final line of what we’re deciding to do relatively soon — in the next few weeks, probably,” Collins said. “When we’re in, I promise everybody, there will be no doubt, no equivocation. We will be in it to win it if we jump in.”
He made sure to praise DeSantis as “America’s governor,” reinforcing the duo’s projection of unity even as President Trump backs a different candidate, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, for the post. DeSantis has derided Donalds, 47, for lacking Floridian “victories” but has refused to endorse the only other high-profile Republican in the race, former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner.
The Trump-DeSantis dynamic, incredibly volatile just a year ago, has shown signs of improvement in recent months. During a press event in July celebrating the opening of the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center, Trump promised that the two would be friends. Since then, Trump has endorsed Ashley Moody and James Uthmeier, two DeSantis appointees, in their bids to continue serving as U.S. senator and state attorney general, respectively.
That doesn’t mean DeSantis will come around to Donalds. He initially hinted that First Lady Casey DeSantis would be his chosen successor until scandalous financial allegations implicated her Hope Florida charity. DeSantis has since lauded Collins, a former Green Beret, and his accomplishments at nearly every press event since the veteran’s appointment, adding fuel to speculation that Collins may be his top choice.
If so, it could set up a Trump v. DeSantis proxy war in the form of the 2026 gubernatorial race.
But Collins doesn’t see it that way.
“Last I checked the calendar, we’re not there yet…”
“This isn’t about DeSantis vs. Trump. Let’s get that out of the way. This is about Florida. Period, end of story,” he said from his Capitol office, speaking from an armchair below a hanging photo of his family.
“Gov. DeSantis is certainly not a lame duck. He is large, he is in charge, and he matters. Just like President Trump,” he continued. “But the average Floridian who supports both of them, they don’t want a choice. They want yes, that’s what the future looks like. It’s not one against the other.”
Politico first reported that Collins might announce in late October or November. During the Phoenix’s interview, he said that although he has his family and community supporting him in a potential bid, he wants to make sure his leadership style is what Floridians need.
“I’m a very upfront, direct, bold, I would say even conversational leader, right? I like to communicate clearly. And I want to make sure that my approach to leadership is what’s best for the state over the next eight years, if that’s what we decided to do,” he continued.
If he runs, Collins would face an uphill battle against Donalds, who’s raised $31.5 million so far. Renner has nearly $4 million in contributions and a $1 million net worth. Collins has roughly $1 million in his political committee and a net worth of $2 million.
Collins brushed off either potential opponent, first indirectly hitting Donalds by pointing out that, historically, early apparent favorites tend to fall short.
“History shows us many things — the first person in generally doesn’t win, hasn’t won,” Collins said. “Gov. DeSantis wasn’t in the race until January. Last I checked the calendar, we’re not there yet.”
Meanwhile, Renner, who kicked off his race last month without the support of Trump or DeSantis, had told the Phoenix that he expects to win the GOP nomination by presenting a unifying conservative message amid what he expects to be a “civil war” between DeSantis supporters and Trump loyalists.
Collins criticized that approach, claiming that betting on “carnage” was something he would personally “never” do.
“I would never want to bet on the carnage between the president and the governor creating space for victory. I don’t think that’s good for Florida,” he said. “I think it comes down to our people.”
Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com.
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