TAMPA BAY — With Florida voters heading to the polls Tuesday, the state's top Republican gubernatorial contenders spent the weekend making last-minute appeals across the state, including stops in the Tampa Bay region.
Campaigns press home core themes
Lt. Gov. Jay Collins spent the final days of the campaign highlighting his military background and an everyman message, telling reporters he is not part of an elite political class and positioning himself as a candidate who understands ordinary Floridians' concerns.
"The differences between myself and Byron Donalds — it couldn't be any more clear. I'm not an elitist candidate. I'm not the country club candidate. I am not the hedge fund candidate, and I am not in the permanent D.C. class. I am a man of the people. ... I've been told thousands of times, 'You seem like one of us.' Well, I am one of you. I'm comfortable being one of you."
Collins, 50, a retired U.S. Army first sergeant and Special Forces medic who received two Purple Hearts for wounds sustained in Afghanistan, outlined a set of priorities he says would ease household budgets and improve consumer protections.
- Insurance relief: He pledged to reduce rates by cracking down on fraud, pushing insurers for clearer pricing and speeding claims processing.
- Home hardening: He supports expanding programs intended to help homes become insurable again.
- Property taxes: Like other Republican candidates, he backs eliminating property taxes on primary residences and promised to pursue tax holidays if a constitutional amendment fails.
Energy and local control
On energy and infrastructure, Collins said customers should not shoulder higher costs to expand capacity. "We will not ration comfort," he said, adding that any new capacity should protect ratepayers. He also suggested local communities should have a say over data center development.
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds used stops in the Tampa Bay area, including an appearance at St. Petersburg College's Tarpon Springs campus, to cast his campaign toward the general election and to underline his standing within the party. Donalds, 47, has been boosted by an endorsement from former President Donald Trump and by backing from state Republican leaders, a factor that campaign observers say has strengthened his position heading into the primary.
Road to the general election
At events attended by dozens of voters, Donalds framed his message with an eye on November, arguing his campaign is building momentum that will translate into a matchup with Democratic opponents. Organizers of his events reported steady turnout at smaller venues, where he sought to connect with conservative voters focused on electability.
Both campaigns focused on themes Republicans believe will be central in the general election: lowering costs for families, strengthening consumer protections and ensuring reliable energy and infrastructure without imposing new burdens on ratepayers.
What voters can expect Tuesday
With early voting concluded and Election Day imminent, the closing weekend underscored how the top Republican contenders are differentiating themselves on both character and policy. Collins emphasized personal background and concrete consumer measures; Donalds emphasized party unity and campaign strength going into the fall.
| Candidate | Focus of weekend stops |
|---|---|
| Jay Collins | Insurance reform, home hardening, tax relief, ratepayer protections |
| Byron Donalds | General election readiness, party support, electability |
Voters across the state will make their choices Tuesday in the GOP primary, setting the stage for a general election that will shape Florida's direction on taxes, insurance and energy policy. The weekend's campaign activity in Tampa Bay was the final push to persuade undecided Republican voters before polls open.
