Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins made it clear today in St. Petersburg that he has no intention of backing down from the Florida gubernatorial race. Speaking from The Urban Stillhouse, Collins addressed a flurry of rumors suggesting his campaign was on the verge of suspension. He dismissed these claims as “100 percent bullshit,” asserting there is a “zero percent chance” he will exit the race, despite currently trailing in both fundraising and recent polling data.
To prove his campaign’s viability, Collins announced a massive seven-figure statewide media buy. This aggressive financial move is designed to boost his name recognition and counter the momentum of front-runner U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds. Collins used the platform to shift his strategy, directly attacking Donalds by labeling him a “flip-flopper” and questioning his ability to win a general election, signaling a much more combative phase of the primary season.
The event highlights the growing tension within the Republican primary as candidates jockey for Governor Ron DeSantis’s base. While Collins has served as DeSantis’s Lieutenant Governor, he has yet to receive an explicit endorsement from his boss, which many see as a hurdle for his candidacy. Today’s defiant stand in St. Pete serves as a reset for his team, aimed at silencing doubters and refocusing the narrative on his legislative record and military background.
