Florida Governor 2026

Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins announced he will run for governor in 2026, formally entering the Republican primary to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis. Collins, a former state senator and 23‑year Army Green Beret, framed his campaign in a statement obtained by Fox News as "leadership forged under pressure" and said public office is a "public trust." He highlighted his work "alongside Governor Ron DeSantis" to advance a conservative agenda and said he chose Florida for his family because it "stands for freedom, opportunity, and personal responsibility." Collins will face a crowded GOP field that already includes Trump‑backed Rep. Byron Donalds, former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and James Fishback. He pledged that, if elected, he would be a "strong partner to President Trump" on secure borders, the economy and an "America First" agenda, signaling a bid to inherit DeSantis’ policy legacy while tying himself closely to the Trump White House.