Ron DeSantis hand-picked Jay Collins to be his second-in-command five months ago.
He called Collins the "Chuck Norris of Florida politics" and brought him to press conferences like a running mate.
But Ron DeSantis went quiet the moment a reporter asked this one question about Jay Collins.
The Hand-Picked Successor Who Got The Cold Shoulder
Collins jumped into the 2026 Florida Governor's race on Monday with an announcement posted to social media.
The 49-year-old Green Beret and Purple Heart recipient talked about leadership and accountability.
But everyone wanted to know one thing: Where's DeSantis?
Hours before Collins made it official, DeSantis held a press conference in Broward County where reporters asked if he'd back his own lieutenant governor for the job.
"I don't know what he's going to announce, or not announce," DeSantis said.
"I'm focused on the state of the state and some other things, if I get involved in the primary, you'll know it, it will be at a time and place of my choosing."
https://twitter.com/joanfromdc/status/2010768574806172047?s=20
That's political speak for "don't hold your breath."
From August Hype To January Silence
When DeSantis picked Collins for lieutenant governor last August, he went all-in on selling him as the future.
DeSantis bashed Collins' opponents Byron Donalds and Paul Renner by name.
He brought Collins to nearly every press conference through late summer and early fall.
He even sent Collins to California to extradite an illegal immigrant accused of vehicular manslaughter.
Five Republican operatives told Politico last week that things between the two men have soured in recent months.
Nobody expects an endorsement now.
When asked about Collins on Monday, DeSantis called him a "good guy" with a "great conservative record."
Then he made it crystal clear he's staying out of the primary.
https://twitter.com/ConservativaPol/status/2011102506412359761?s=20
The Poll Numbers Tell A Brutal Story
Collins enters the race getting demolished in every survey.
A January 8 poll from Fabrizio, Lee & Associates showed frontrunner Byron Donalds at 45% support with Collins at just 6%.
When pollsters told voters about President Trump's endorsement of Donalds, the gap became a bloodbath – Donalds jumped to 73% while Collins dropped to 5%.
Even when pollsters tested a scenario where both Trump endorsed Donalds AND DeSantis endorsed Collins, Donalds still crushed him 50% to 10%.
The poll's authors noted that Collins' multimillion-dollar advertising campaign had "completely dissipated" – only 16% of Republican primary voters even remembered seeing anything about him.
https://twitter.com/VictoryPolling/status/1989049157693419744?s=20
Collins only has $900,000 in his political committee.
Donalds has over $35 million, Trump's endorsement, Senator Rick Scott's backing, support from 17 of Florida's 20 congressional members, and 63 Florida House members on his side.
Collins has his Green Beret credentials and a governor who suddenly can't remember his phone number.
The DEI Scandal That Won't Go Away
Collins faces baggage that Republican primary voters won't forgive.
Reports in August revealed that Operation BBQ Relief – where Collins served as Chief Operating Officer – had mandatory DEI training for employees and volunteers.
The organization applied diversity, equity and inclusion principles to hiring, promotions, and picking contractors.
The nonprofit scrubbed the policy from its website after reporters exposed it.
Collins called it "fabricated."
DeSantis rushed to defend him in August, but that was back when their relationship still worked.
Republican primary voters in Florida have zero tolerance for DEI policies – even at nonprofits feeding disaster victims.
https://twitter.com/KickboxerEsq/status/2010781655544262959?s=20
Collins Knows He's On His Own
Collins told reporters Monday he didn't expect DeSantis to back him.
"I didn't expect any endorsement coming in here," Collins said.
"You better earn it if you want to be the next governor of Florida."
That's not confidence.
That's resignation.
The Donalds campaign twisted the knife immediately.
"Trump-endorsed Byron Donalds is the only proven conservative fighter who can unite Republicans, deliver on the President's America First agenda, crush the Democrats, and make Florida more affordable," Chief Strategist Ryan Smith said.
"Anyone running against Byron is an anti-Trump RINO and will be soundly defeated in the Republican primary."
Collins waited too long to announce.
He got caught with DEI baggage he can't explain away.
His relationship with DeSantis collapsed somewhere between August and January.
And now he's entering a race where Trump's endorsement of his opponent outweighs everything else combined.
DeSantis hyped Collins as the next Chuck Norris of Florida politics five months ago.
Now DeSantis won't even say his name without a reporter forcing the issue.
Sources:
- Gary Fineout, "Florida's lieutenant governor jumps into crowded GOP governor race," Politico, January 12, 2026.
- Frank Kopylov, "Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins enters 2026 governor's race, emphasizes military service and DeSantis ties," Florida Voice News, January 12, 2026.
- A.G. Gancarski, "Jay Collins declares for Governor," Florida Politics, January 12, 2026.
- Mitch Perry, "Collins announces bid for governor as DeSantis wavers on whether to endorse," Florida Phoenix, January 12, 2026.
- Mitch Perry, "Latest 2026 Florida GOP gubernatorial poll shows Byron Donalds blowing away the rest of the field," Florida Phoenix, January 9, 2026.
