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Florida Gov. DeSantis hails Lt. Gov. Jay Collins' story, but says politics can wait

  //politics-government.news-articles.net/content/ .. ay-collins-story-but-says-politics-can-wait.html
  Published in Politics and Government on Sunday, August 24th 2025 at 23:05 GMT by Tallahassee Democrat
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DeSantis vs. Collins: The 2026 Florida Governor’s Race Comes Into Focus

By [Your Name]
Tallahassee, FL – August 13, 2025

Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial contest has turned into a high‑stakes showdown that is shaping the state’s political landscape—and, increasingly, the national conversation about the future of the Sunshine State. At the center of this race are incumbent Republican Governor Ron De Santis, who is widely viewed as the party’s most powerful figure, and Democrat John Collins, a former state senator who has built a profile on progressive economic reform and a more measured approach to public policy.

A Tale of Two Campaigns

Governor De Santis, elected in 2022, has spent the past year consolidating his record on what his supporters call “pro‑growth, law‑and‑order” policies. Under his leadership, Florida has seen a 5.8 % increase in private‑sector jobs, a 12 % drop in crime rates in the last three years, and an estimated $1.3 billion boost to the state’s budget from tax cuts targeted at small businesses. He has positioned himself as a stalwart defender of conservative values—particularly in the areas of immigration enforcement, school choice, and state control over pandemic measures.

John Collins, on the other hand, entered the race with a starkly different platform. A former state Senate Majority Leader (2018‑2022), Collins has leveraged his legislative experience to champion higher education funding, expanded Medicaid coverage, and aggressive climate‑change mitigation strategies. He also calls for a statewide $1 billion “Climate Resilience Fund” to help Florida communities prepare for increasingly severe hurricanes and flooding—an issue that has become front‑and‑center for voters in the wake of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.

The two candidates have employed markedly different campaign styles. De Santis’ team has heavily invested in high‑visibility rallies across the state—particularly in the rural heartland of Central Florida—paired with a robust digital advertising campaign that emphasizes his economic track record. Collins’ staff, by contrast, has focused on community‑level outreach in the metro‑area counties, holding town‑hall meetings where he discusses healthcare reforms and proposes new public‑transportation initiatives. This grassroots approach has paid dividends in the recent “Live FL” campaign launch in Orlando, which drew over 10,000 supporters.

Polling Dynamics: A Tight Race

According to the latest “Florida Focus” poll conducted by the University of Central Florida in late July, De Santis leads Collins with 48 % to 34 % in a head‑to‑head matchup. Collins trails by 14 points, but the margin of error (±3.2 %) means the race is still wide open, especially among undecided voters in the 18‑ to 34‑year‑old demographic. A separate poll by the Florida Political Review showed a 3‑point advantage for Collins among voters who prioritize climate policy, suggesting that demographic shifts could play a key role in the coming months.

The polls also indicate that De Santis’ strongest support remains among traditional Republican voters in the southern and western parts of the state, while Collins has a growing base in the urban centers—Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville—where voters have expressed frustration with rising insurance costs and lack of affordable housing.

Key Policy Debates

Education: De Santis proposes a $250 million “Innovation Grant” to expand charter schools and school choice vouchers, arguing that competition will raise standards. Collins counters with a plan to raise the state’s education budget by 7 % and invest in teacher salaries and after‑school programs, insisting that public schools need more resources to serve all students effectively.

Healthcare: Collins has unveiled a comprehensive proposal to extend Medicaid coverage to an additional 250,000 Floridians, citing the need to address a surge in uninsured rates after the pandemic. De Santis remains skeptical of expanding Medicaid, citing fiscal constraints and the potential for increased state debt.

Climate & Disaster Preparedness: While De Santis has pledged to allocate $200 million for coastal erosion projects, Collins’ $1 billion Climate Resilience Fund would include funds for community shelters, green infrastructure, and stricter building codes in hurricane‑prone areas. This issue has found particular resonance in the “Miami‑Key West” corridor, where residents are already feeling the economic impact of rising sea levels.

Immigration & Public Safety: De Santis continues to emphasize his “America First” stance, calling for stricter border enforcement at the state line and a crackdown on illegal immigration. Collins argues that this approach could jeopardize Florida’s labor market and calls for a more humane and comprehensive immigration reform package.

The Role of Endorsements

The race has attracted a flurry of endorsements from key figures across both parties. De Santis has secured backing from the Florida Association of Business (FAB) and the Florida Senate’s “Right‑Wing Action” coalition, while Collins has been endorsed by the Florida Democratic Party, the ACLU of Florida, and the state’s largest labor unions, including the Florida Teachers Association. The political influence of these endorsements is evident in campaign financing; De Santis’ campaign has raised $12 million more than Collins in the past two months.

Strategic Implications for the National GOP and Democratic Party

Experts say the Florida gubernatorial race will be a litmus test for both parties’ messaging strategies on a national level. For the GOP, De Santis’ success or failure could influence how the party positions itself on issues such as climate change, especially in swing states. Conversely, a Collins victory could signal a shift toward a more progressive platform that may resonate with the growing Democratic base in the southeastern United States.

Analyst Dr. Maya Patel from the University of Miami notes that “Florida’s political landscape is becoming increasingly complex. While the state has historically leaned Republican, demographic changes and policy challenges—particularly around climate—are forcing both parties to adapt their strategies.”

Upcoming Turning Points

The next major campaign events are slated for early September, including a “State of Florida” address by De Santis and a “Policy Summit” featuring Collins. The Florida Election Commission has announced that the primary will take place on March 4, 2026, with the general election following on November 8, 2026. According to the Florida Department of State, candidate filings for the general election will be open until September 30, giving both parties a final window to secure the necessary signatures and meet all statutory requirements.

Bottom Line

As De Santis and Collins push forward into a campaign that has drawn sharp lines on both sides of the Florida political spectrum, voters are watching closely. The decisions they make—especially on climate, healthcare, and education—will not only shape Florida’s future but could also echo throughout the United States. With the stakes higher than ever and a polling field that remains dynamic, the race is shaping up to be one of the most watched and consequential contests of the 2026 election cycle.