DeSantis Brushes Aside Endorsing Jay Collins in LG's Backyard

With Lt. Gov Jay Collins present, Gov. Ron DeSantis sidestepped whether or not he would endorse the lieutenant governor to succeed him in office while speaking at a press conference in Tampa today.

“I think everybody knows that when I’ve got something on my mind that... I wanted people to know that, people know," DeSantis said. "So we’re not going to be shy about anything about what we’re doing."

"There's not going to be any type of mysteries, like, you know, I feel the need to do something, I do it, you guys can stand by and just watch," DeSantis added.

The governor's remarks were delivered in Lt. Gov. Collins' backyard. Collins, who joined Gov. DeSantis at a bill signing, lives in Tampa with his wife and two sons. But still no love from the governor in his hometown. Gov. DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Collins didn't appear to shake hands at the bill signing either, for what it's worth.

DeSantis appointed Collins as lieutenant governor in August 2025. Since then, DeSantis has brushed aside endorsing anyone to succeed him in the Republican gubernatorial primary, despite Collins being his second in command and the lieutenant governor vying for the nod.

Collins is in a GOP primary with U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, and businessman James Fishback.

While the governor hasn't given a resounding endorsement to Collins, he hasn't been enamored by the other choices either. DeSantis and Rep. Donalds reportedly have a lukewarm relationship, although the congressman did praise the governor's job in an interview with The Floridian in December 2025.

DeSantis also didn't have much to say about Renner, who worked under the governor as Speaker from 2022 to 2024.

"I'm not supporting Paul Renner. I think it was an ill-advised decision to enter the race," DeSantis said after Renner's gubernatorial announcement.

As for Fishback, the governor has yet to make public comments on his candidacy, despite Fishback creating waves on social media with his controversial takes, including racially charged rhetoric at Rep. Donalds.

The GOP primary is Aug. 18, 2026.