Why It Matters
Florida Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins is publicly challenging President Donald Trump’s endorsement of U.S. Representative Byron Donalds in the Republican gubernatorial primary, suggesting he can persuade Trump to reconsider. The statement comes as Trump’s 2026 primary endorsements have proven decisive without exception, making Collins’ path increasingly difficult in the conservative proving ground state.
What Happened
Collins told national radio hosts Clay Travis and Buck Sexton that he believes Trump could change his endorsement if given the opportunity to make his case. The Lieutenant Governor emphasized Trump’s focus on winning and the importance of keeping Florida under Republican control.
Collins moved to Florida from Montana during Governor Ron DeSantis’ first term and now serves as Lieutenant Governor. He has positioned his candidacy as an underdog effort comparable to past Republican primary upsets in Florida.
By the Numbers
Collins has struggled with fundraising compared to his opponent. Nearly half of his cash on hand comes from a single donor. He pointed to historical precedent: eight years ago, DeSantis overcame Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who held significant fundraising and endorsement advantages. Sixteen years ago, Rick Scott defeated Attorney General Bill McCollum after self-financing approximately $78 million, equivalent to roughly $120 million in current dollars.
Collins has not matched Scott’s financial resources and lacks the self-funding capability that enabled that previous upset victory.
The Endorsement Gap
Collins acknowledged Trump has not endorsed him and faces ongoing questions about why DeSantis has not formally backed his Lieutenant Governor. His most prominent endorsements come from small-county sheriffs. Collins has suggested that serving as Lieutenant Governor is tantamount to DeSantis’ support and expressed confidence there is a strong chance the Governor will provide formal backing.
What’s Next
Collins pledged to support Donalds if the Naples congressman wins the Republican nomination, despite expressing serious concerns about Donalds’ ability to defeat the Democratic nominee. He emphasized the necessity of keeping Florida under Republican control regardless of the primary outcome.
Trump’s endorsement pattern this cycle suggests Collins faces significant obstacles in changing the President’s position. The primary will test whether Collins can replicate the underdog victories he cited or whether Trump’s backing proves decisive as it has in other 2026 Republican contests.