Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins Says Path Exists to Win Trump’s Endorsement Over Byron Donalds
Why It Matters
Florida’s 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary is shaping up as a test of whether a Trump endorsement is decisive — and whether any challenger can overcome the political weight the president carries in his adopted home state.
What Happened
Florida Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins is holding out hope that President Donald Trump will reverse course and endorse his bid for governor, despite Trump having already publicly backed Congressman Byron Donalds for the Republican nomination. Collins made his case during a national radio appearance, telling hosts Clay Travis and Buck Sexton that he believes he can still change the president’s mind if given the chance.
“President Trump hasn’t endorsed me yet. There’s opportunities,” Collins said during the interview. “If given the opportunity to present a case, I think we have an opportunity to change his mind and push this thing.”
Collins argued that Trump values winning above all else and framed Florida as essential to the broader conservative movement. “Florida can’t fall,” he said, describing the state as “the conservative proving grounds of America.”
Historical Comparisons
To make his case, Collins drew parallels to two previous Florida Republican upsets. He pointed to Ron DeSantis’s 2018 primary victory over then-Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who entered the race as the clear frontrunner with substantial fundraising and endorsement advantages. Collins also cited Rick Scott’s 2010 win over Attorney General Bill McCollum, who similarly held commanding leads in money and establishment support before Scott prevailed.
The comparisons have notable limits, however. Scott self-financed his 2010 campaign to a significant degree — spending roughly $78 million in 2010 dollars, a sum that would approach $120 million in today’s money. Collins, by contrast, has faced persistent fundraising struggles and has reportedly relied on a single major donor for a substantial share of his available cash.
By the Numbers
- $78 million — approximate amount Rick Scott self-funded in his 2010 gubernatorial campaign
- ~$120 million — equivalent value of Scott’s 2010 spending in 2026 dollars
- 8 years — the gap between each of the two historical upsets Collins cited
- 100% — Trump’s endorsement success rate in Republican primaries this cycle, with every backed candidate prevailing
Collins vs. Donalds
Collins spent a portion of the interview drawing a contrast between himself and Donalds, describing his own record as “squeaky clean” while characterizing his opponent as having a “checkered past.” Despite those criticisms, Collins pledged to support Donalds if he becomes the Republican nominee, saying he would “break my back” to help the party hold Florida in a general election. He did, however, express concern about Donalds’s ability to defeat the eventual Democratic candidate.
Questions about endorsements have followed Collins throughout the race. He has frequently been pressed on why Governor Ron DeSantis — who selected Collins as his lieutenant governor — has not formally backed him. Collins has implied that being DeSantis’s running mate effectively constitutes an informal endorsement and has suggested there is a strong possibility a formal endorsement will materialize.
As of now, Collins’s most prominent endorsers are reported to be sheriffs from smaller Florida counties, a profile that stands in contrast to Donalds’s national visibility and Trump’s backing. Elsewhere in Florida’s competitive 2026 political landscape, congressional races are also drawing significant fundraising attention and high-profile endorsements.
Zoom Out
Trump’s endorsement record in Republican primaries has become one of the defining dynamics of the 2026 cycle. Candidates who have secured his backing have consistently won their primaries, making a Trump-endorsed opponent an especially high bar to clear. Florida, as both Trump’s home state and a major electoral prize, adds additional weight to the president’s preferences there.
What’s Next
Collins will need to demonstrate measurable fundraising progress and secure higher-profile endorsements to credibly compete with Donalds heading into the primary. Whether an opportunity to make his case directly to Trump materializes — and whether it would move the president — remains uncertain. The Republican primary for Florida governor is expected to intensify through the summer ahead of the August primary.