Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, August 20, 2026 —

Despite Byron Donalds securing the Republican gubernatorial nomination, his opponent Jay Collins demonstrated significant strength in North Florida during the primary election. Collins successfully won 14 counties in the North Florida region and an additional county in Central Florida. This performance has prompted an examination of the factors contributing to his success in these specific geographical areas.

The analysis of Collins’ performance indicates a strong showing in a particular segment of the state. While Donalds ultimately clinched the nomination, Collins’ ability to capture the majority of counties in North Florida highlights a notable base of support within that region. The reasons for this regional success are a key focus following the primary’s conclusion.

Further details regarding the specific strategies employed by the Collins campaign in North and Central Florida, voter demographics that may have contributed to his wins, or any stated reasons from the campaign or voters for this outcome were not provided in the available summary. The exact number of votes or the margin of victory in these counties was also not specified.

Byron Donalds’ victory in the gubernatorial primary means he will advance as the Republican candidate. The performance of Jay Collins in North Florida, however, offers a localized perspective on voter engagement and support within the Republican electorate during this election cycle.



Story summarized from the original created by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix on www.cltampa.com, see more information here.

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