Florida lieutenant governor launches 2026 gubernatorial campaign
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60-Second Summary
Tallahassee, Fla. — Florida Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins announced Monday he is running for governor in 2026, entering crowded Republican primary to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis. Collins, appointed lieutenant governor in August 2025 after Jeanette Nuñez departed for Florida International University, cited his 23 years of Green Beret service on X. He joins contenders including U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, Paul Renner and James Fishback; Donalds carries a presidential endorsement from Donald Trump. Collins framed his campaign around leadership under pressure. His announcement drew statewide attention. Based on 11 articles reviewed and supporting research.
About this summary
This 60-second summary was prepared by the JQJO editorial team after reviewing 11 original reports from Spectrum News Bay News 9, News 13, ABC Action News Tampa Bay (WFTS), WPTV, WFLA, NBC 6 South Florida, 7 News Miami, WUSF, WPEC, FlaglerLive and Daily Mail Online.
Timeline of Events
- November 2022: Jay Collins elected to Florida State Senate.
- February 2025: Jeanette Nuñez resigns to become FIU president.
- August 2025: Gov. DeSantis appoints Jay Collins as lieutenant governor.
- September 2025: Collins signals exploration of a gubernatorial bid in interviews.
- January 2026: Collins officially announces his run for governor.
- Articles Published:
- 11
- Right Leaning:
- 1
- Left Leaning:
- 0
- Neutral:
- 10
- Distribution:
- Left 0%, Center 91%, Right 9%
Jay Collins gains statewide visibility and an official campaign platform, leveraging his military service and recent appointment as lieutenant governor to attract conservative voters and potential donors.
Other Republican primary contenders, particularly Trump-aligned candidates, may face intensified competition for endorsements, donors and conservative voter support as Collins enters the field.
Coverage of Story:
From Left
No left-leaning sources found for this story.
From Center
Florida lieutenant governor launches 2026 gubernatorial campaign
Spectrum News Bay News 9 News 13 ABC Action News Tampa Bay (WFTS) WPTV WFLA NBC 6 South Florida 7 News Miami WUSF WPEC FlaglerLive
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