Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins endorsed Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds on Tuesday, putting his support behind the congressman he previously challenged for the GOP nomination.

“Our mission right now is to keep Florida free,” Collins said in announcing his endorsement. He urged Republicans to come together behind Donalds and warned against turning the state over to Democratic nominee David Jolly.

The endorsement marks a sharp shift from the Republican primary. Collins spent months campaigning against Donalds and arguing that Republicans who remained skeptical of the congressman should support his own campaign. At one point, Collins questioned whether Donalds could defeat Jolly in the general election.

Donalds ultimately won the Aug. 18 Republican primary and will face Jolly, a former Republican congressman who later became a Democrat, in the Nov. 3 general election. President Donald Trump endorsed Donalds during the primary, while Gov. Ron DeSantis later endorsed him as well.

Donalds thanked Collins for his support, describing the lieutenant governor as someone who has served both Florida and the country. “Republicans need to stand as a united front now more than ever,” Donalds said.

Collins was appointed lieutenant governor by DeSantis in 2025 after previously serving in the Florida Senate. A U.S. Army Special Forces veteran, Collins entered the governor's race with a campaign focused heavily on affordability, property taxes, insurance costs and public safety.

With the Republican primary over, Collins' endorsement gives Donalds the backing of a former rival as the campaign shifts toward the general election. The Florida race now centers on Donalds and Jolly, with both candidates seeking to define the direction of the state after DeSantis leaves office.