Gov. Ron DeSantis declined to say whether he’s planning to endorse anyone in the GOP primary for Florida governor at a news conference Monday. Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who’s running as a Republican for Florida governor and has said he’s trying to earn DeSantis’ endorsement, was in attendance. The Tampa Bay Times asked DeSantis if he’s planning to endorse a candidate in the GOP gubernatorial ...

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at the Florida State Capitol on Jan. 13, 2026, in Tallahassee.

Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/TNS

Gov. Ron DeSantis declined to say whether he’s planning to endorse anyone in the GOP primary for Florida governor at a news conference Monday.

Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who’s running as a Republican for Florida governor and has said he’s trying to earn DeSantis’ endorsement, was in attendance.

The Tampa Bay Times asked DeSantis if he’s planning to endorse a candidate in the GOP gubernatorial primary, and if so, who’s at the top of his list right now.

“I think everybody knows that when I’ve got something on my mind, that I want to let people know, that people know. We’re not going to be shy ... about what we’re doing,” he responded. “I feel the need to do something, I do it. And so you guys can stand by and just watch.”

DeSantis’ remarks on his endorsement echoed what he said in January, when Collins first entered the race.

At a news conference in Broward County in January, DeSantis declined to say whether he would endorse Collins, but called him “a good guy” who “served this country admirably as a Green Beret.”

“If I get involved in the primary, you’ll know it. It’ll be at a time and place of my choosing, so we’ll see,” DeSantis said.

Two candidates in the race for Florida governor have said they’re holding out hope that DeSantis will endorse them: former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and Collins, who DeSantis appointed as Florida’s No. 2 executive in August.

Collins told the Times that he has to work to earn DeSantis’ endorsement. He argued that DeSantis’ past praise and decision to appoint him lieutenant governor are an implicit endorsement in “actions and words.”

President Donald Trump has already gotten behind U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, who has a more than $45 million war chest and a double-digit lead in most polls conducted so far.

Collins previously told the Times that DeSantis’ endorsement is “just as strong” as Trump’s in Florida.

In an Emerson College poll released last week, respondents gave slightly higher approval marks to DeSantis than to Trump. More than half of respondents said they approve of DeSantis’ performance as governor, while almost 46% said they approve of Trump’s performance.

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