Florida governor's race is getting crowded: 6 Republicans, 2 Democrats, and counting
News and views for discerning Floridians
The number of Republicans who want to succeed lame duck Gov. Ron DeSantis keeps growing.
The latest entry to the crowded field is Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who has only been on the job since last August, when he was appointed by DeSantis to fill the vacant position.
He joins the burgeoning crowd of Republicans who will face off in the August 18 primary election. Others already in the hunt include:
Byron Donalds: U.S. congressman from southwest Florida.
Paul Renner: Former Florida House speaker.
James Fishback: A South Florida hedge fund manager.
Bobby Williams: Activist and food bank volunteer.
Charles Burkett: Mayor of Surfside.
There are also two Democrats who will compete later this year who are considered serious contenders:
Jerry Demings: Mayor of Orange County.
David Jolly: Former Republican U.S. representative from Pinellas County.
Add to this list dozens of other wannabes who have filed paperwork to run as independents, minor party candidates, write-ins or as major party members but who do not enjoy sufficient support at this time to be considered serious contenders. That list will likely continue to grow.
The newest serious entry, Collins, is a former Green Beret and state senator, who during his three years in office is notable for his support of the state’s six-week abortion ban, and he sponsored a bill to allow the permitless carry of concealed firearms (before open carry became the state law).
He also, according to his Wikipedia page, introduced an amendment in 2023 that would have allowed the flying of the Confederate flag on public buildings, but later claimed that was a “mistake.” However, it was not a mistake that among the flags the bill would disallow was the pride flag.
In announcing his plan to compete for the Republican nomination, he said:
“I’m running for governor to keep Florida strong and to build on the legacy of leadership that has made our state the model for the nation. As governor, I will be a strong partner to President Trump in fighting for secure borders, a strong economy, and an America First agenda that puts families and freedom first.”
Trump, however, has other plans for his adoptive home state. He’s already endorsed Byron Donalds.
Will Collins’ pal DeSantis endorse him?
The governor has made his position on that question crystal clear:
“We’ll see.”
Reminder:
It’s a ways off, but if you intend to vote by mail in the August primary election, here’s what the Florida secretary of state’s office advises:
Vote-by-mail requests must be made to the county Supervisor of Elections in the voter’s county of registration. For information about vote-by-mail for absent stateside military and overseas military and civilians, visit Military and Overseas Voting. For information about accessible voting methods for persons with disabilities, visit Accessible Voting for Persons with Disabilities.
In a post on the department’s official website dated Nov. 7, 2025, Secretary of State Cord Byrd’s office further advises:
The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot to be mailed for the 2024 General Election is October 24, 2024. Ballots requested for delivery within 10 days of the election additionally require a special emergency affidavit.
Yeah, you read that right. We’re already into 2026, a primary election and a mid-term election are looming, and our state government is still advising on how to vote in an election held more than a year ago.
But, hey, mistakes happen. I called the Secretary of State’s office, and a very nice woman said she’d check it out. So, maybe by the time you read this, it may be fixed.
If you need help locating the address or phone number for your county supervisor of elections office, here’s the link the State Department supplied:
One final note: If you are new to Florida, our primary elections are closed. Meaning that if you are not registered to a political party, you can’t vote for candidates in the primary election. There are about 3.4 million people in the state who have registered to vote with no party affiliation, meaning that unlike in so-called Open Primary states, they will have no say on who appears on the November general election ballot.
J.C. Bruce is the founder of Tropic Press, a journalist, and award-winning author. He holds dual citizenship in the United States of America and his native Florida.
Check this out
One of the first journalists in Florida to welcome me as I launched this newsletter on Substack was Ted Lund of Key West, whose “Above the Fold” coverage of public affairs in the Conch Republic has set a new standard for independent journalism in the Sunshine State.
In fact, he was recently named one of the six best political reporters in the state.
Ted asked me if I would share a new venture he’s got going, and I am delighted to do so.
Increasingly, print journalism is adding video components, and Ted has launched a new YouTube channel to do just that. As he likes to say: “Above the Fold is taking the next step in its mission to show up where the record matters — expanding into live video coverage on YouTube — and we want you with us.”
If you live in Key West, this is must viewing. And for all of us living elsewhere in Florida, Key West still holds a special place in our hearts. I, for one, am very much looking forward to watching Ted’s new YouTube channel. I hope you check it out, too.
Here’s where you can learn more about it:
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