It took him more than a month after the Republican primary, but on Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins fulfilled a campaign promise and endorsed his one-time rival, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, for Florida governor. “I’m endorsing Byron Donalds for Governor because I believe he can continue that work and keep Florida moving forward,” said Collins, a retired U.S. Army first sergeant and Special Forces ...

Byron Donalds on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in the race for Florida governor.

Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times/TNS

It took him more than a month after the Republican primary, but on Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins fulfilled a campaign promise and endorsed his one-time rival, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, for Florida governor.

“I’m endorsing Byron Donalds for Governor because I believe he can continue that work and keep Florida moving forward,” said Collins, a retired U.S. Army first sergeant and Special Forces medic, in a statement released by the Donalds campaign. “It’s time for Republicans to come together with a shared focus on winning in November and delivering for the people who call Florida home.”

While not unexpected, Tuesday’s endorsement was still an about-face for Collins given the harshness of attacks he leveled at Donalds throughout the primary campaign.

After launching his campaign in January, Collins couldn’t overtake Donalds, who had filed to run almost a year before. Collins made up for his lack of money by courting attention with relentless broadsides against the race’s unquestionable front-runner. In April, Collins unleashed multiple fronts of attack at a news conference, handing out a 13-page dossier covering past Donalds associates, stock trades and votes in Congress.

During the Republicans’ annual conference in late June, Collins said Donalds was sure to lose against the then-presumptive Democratic nominee, former U.S. Rep. David Jolly.

“Byron Donalds is not ready for the fight ahead,” Collins said.

During a July 2 debate with two other Republican rivals, Collins called Donalds, who has an arrest record from when he was younger, a “two-time felon” who “does not believe in law and order.”

And just days before the primary, Collins told reporters that Donalds wasn’t sparking enthusiasm with voters.

“I have not heard a single person in any meeting, on any of the thousands of phone calls I’ve made, say that they were excited about voting for Byron Donalds,” he said.

At that same news conference, however, Collins urged unity after the primary.

“I absolutely think all Republicans should step in and support whoever the nominee is,” Collins said.

Alliances can rapidly shift in politics. With Jolly showing that he’s more competitive than expected, Donalds can’t afford to worry about his right flank. Collins’ endorsement could sway some of his supporters to back Donalds, a dividend that may make him more competitive in Florida’s deep-red counties in November.

Collins did surprisingly well against the better-financed Donalds in the Aug. 18 GOP primary, winning a quarter of the Republican vote, much of it concentrated in northern rural counties with overwhelmingly white populations. If Donalds wins, he would become Florida’s first Black governor.

“I am honored to have the endorsement of Jay Collins, a man who knows what it means to proudly serve our country and our great state and who has sacrificed a great deal to protect our freedoms,” Donalds said in a statement. “With Jay Collins on our side, I am confident we will defeat David Jolly, keep Florida red, and make our state safer and more affordable for every Floridian.”

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