Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins held a press conference at Urban Stillhouse in St. Petersburg today, sharply criticizing challenger Congressman Byron Donalds and distributing a 13-page dossier outlining what he described as Donalds’ “liabilities” to a mixed crowd of press, patrons and supporters.
Collins, who was appointed lieutenant governor by Ron DeSantis and is now running to succeed him. Collins starkly averred the stakes of the Republican primary, arguing that if Donalds secures the nomination, Democratic challenger David Jolly would have a clear path to victory.
If Jolly wins, the democratic victory would end decades of Republican control of the governor’s office. No Democrat has won the office since Lawton Chiles in 1991, with Republicans maintaining control since 1998.
“This is not a risk we can afford to take here in Florida,” Collins said, pointing to what he described as growing Democratic momentum and Jolly’s viability in a general election.
The core of Collins’ remarks were gleaned from the dossier his staff circulated, which compiles a range of claims about Donalds’ record. Some allegations are grounded in public documentation, while others lack full context or appear overstated.
Records confirm Donalds voted against the December 2023 defense bill that included a 5.2% military pay raise, though he supported similar legislation in 2024, complicating Collins’ attack that Donalds outright opposed military pay increases.
Collins also targeted Donalds over financial disclosures, an area more clearly supported by congressional records. Donalds failed to timely disclose more than 100 stock trades totaling up to $1.6 million, raising potential compliance issues under federal reporting rules. However, no insider trading was alleged, and Donalds’ office has said third-party managers were responsible for the transactions and reporting delays.
Additional claims in the dossier focus on Donalds’ past association with adviser Larry Wilcoxson, who received significant campaign payments and has a history of legal issues, including a 2006 case involving a minor. Some charges tied to Wilcoxson were dismissed or later vacated, adding complexity to Collins’ characterization.
Collins’ own campaign presentation leaned heavily on his military background. A former U.S. Army Green Beret, he has made his service a central pillar of his candidacy, often foregrounding it over his relatively brief political record.
Collins served a short tenure in the Florida Senate before being elevated to lieutenant governor through appointment rather than a statewide election, a potential liability of his own since it prompts questions about his electoral durability.
While Collins emphasized his alignment with DeSantis-era policies, the governor has not formally endorsed him in the race.
Despite the lack of an official endorsement, Collins has closely mirrored DeSantis’ policy positions. His legislative record, while limited in duration, includes sponsorship of high-profile conservative measures such as permitless concealed carry, alongside engagement in culture-war-oriented proposals around issues like education and symbolic displays, such as Pride flags.