Republican Candidates Trade Attacks as Florida Governor's Race Heats Up

Jay Collins Says Byron Donalds ‘Is Not a Risk That We Can Afford to Take’

By: Mitch Perry, The Florida Phoenix Trailing badly in the race for the GOP nomination for governor, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins unloaded on U.S. Rep.  Byron Donalds Monday, claiming he has been found “wanting” in his decision-making, performance in office, and moral clarity. Speaking at a St. Petersburg brewing company just days after he took to social media to deny he was about to end his campaign, Collins distributed a 13-page report on Donalds’ all…

Republican candidates trade attacks as Florida governor's race heats up

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — Lt. Gov. Jay Collins visited Pinellas County on Monday to host a news conference to dispel rumors that he’s dropping out of Florida's gubernatorial race. “We are not suspending our campaign,” Collins said. After canceling an event in Southwest Florida, rumors started to swirl that Collins would exit the race. [...]

Jay Collins says Byron Donalds 'is not a risk that we can afford to take'

Florida Lieutenant Gov. Jay Collins speaking at The Urban Stillhouse in St. Petersburg on April 20, 2026 (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix)ST PETERSBURG — Trailing badly in the race for the GOP nomination for governor, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins unloaded on U.S. Rep.  Byron Donalds Monday, claiming he has been found “wanting” in his decision-making, performance in office, and moral clarity. Speaking at a St. Petersburg brewing company just days af…

Jay Collins says Byron Donalds could lose governor’s race to Democrats

Collins, who is an opponent of Donalds in the GOP primary, also clarified that he’s not dropping out of the race.

Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins denies campaign exit rumors and launches new attacks on GOP rival Byron Donalds

Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins sought Monday to turn rumors about the viability of his campaign into a show of defiance, insisting at a St. Petersburg press conference that he is staying in the Republican governors race. He announced his team was launching a seven-figure media buy, then sharpened his attacks on front-runner Byron Donalds.Rest assured, whoever started the rumor, I think I've handled that very clearly, and I'll stand on my last stat…

Florida governor’s race: Jay Collins claims Byron Donalds would lose to Democrat David Jolly

Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins said Monday that if Byron Donalds is the nominee of the Republican Party in the race for governor, that Donalds would lose the November election to a Democrat.