{"id":2549573,"date":"2026-01-23T17:33:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T22:33:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chris-collins-announces-comeback-house-bid-in-florida\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T17:34:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T22:34:18","slug":"chris-collins-announces-comeback-house-bid-in-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chris-collins-announces-comeback-house-bid-in-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris Collins announces comeback House bid in Florida"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fchris-collins-announces-comeback-house-bid-in-florida%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2549573&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Former New York Rep. Chris Collins has launched a comeback campaign for Florida&#8217;s 19th Congressional District. Collins, who served in Congress from 2013 to 2019 and was the first House member to endorse Donald Trump in 2016, pleaded guilty to an <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >insider-trading charge<\/a> in 2019, resigned his seat, served two months in prison, and was pardoned by Trump in December 2020. Now living in Florida, he announced his run via a video on X, calling himself the &#8220;original Trump conservative&#8221; and saying he wants to &#8220;help him finish&#8221; the fight. The gulf Coast district (including Naples and Cape Coral) is a Republican stronghold and the seat is being vacated by Rep. Byron Donalds, who is running for governor; Collins faces a crowded GOP primary that includes other controversial former members like Madison Cawthorn.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump&rsquo;s first Congressional backer announces comeback House bid in Florida<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2482437\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Former New York Rep. Chris Collins on Friday launched a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/records-lin-wood-has-for-decades-voted-for-donated-to-democrats-including-barack-obama-and-david-perdues-2014-opponent\/\" title=\"Records: Lin Wood Has for Decades Voted for, Donated to Democrats Including Barack Obama and David Perdue\u2019s 2014 Opponent\">comeback bid<\/a> for another seat in the U.S. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-of-representatives\/\">House of Representatives<\/a>, this time in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\/\">Florida<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The former Niagara-area representative who served in Congress from 2013 to 2019 was the first congressman to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/endorsements\/\">endorse<\/a> President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>&lsquo;s 2016 campaign. If elected in Florida&rsquo;s 19th Congressional District, Collins would be coming back to the lower chamber after pleading guilty to an insider trading indictment in 2019, resigning his New York seat, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wkbw.com\/news\/local-news\/chris-collins-released-from-federal-prison-after-serving-two-months\">serving two months<\/a> in prison.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4432026\/va-workforce-losses-veteran-healthcare\/\">More than a million veterans left without primary care providers because of VA staffing losses, watchdog warns<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4431052\/murphy-progressive-democrat-mallory-mcmorrow-michigan-senate-race\/\">Chris Murphy backs progressive Democrat Mallory McMorrow in Michigan Senate race<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4430732\/trump-ice-susan-collins-maine\/\">Trump injects ICE controversy into Susan Collins reelection fight<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;We need to take our country back. We need to make America great again. We need to be a country where our children and grandchildren can live the American dream, like many of us did. I&rsquo;m Chris Collins, the original Trump conservative,&rdquo; Collins said in his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CollinsFL19\/status\/2014679670537470413?s=20\">video<\/a> announcement.<\/p>\n<p>Trump pardoned Collins in December 2020, in the final weeks of his first term, allowing Collins to walk free after serving two of 26 months of his prison sentence. Collins, who moved to Florida after leaving Congress in 2019, is running for the Gulf Coast seat, which is currently held but being vacated by Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/byron-donalds\/\">Byron Donalds <\/a>(R-FL), who is running to be Florida&rsquo;s next <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/governor-races\/\">governor<\/a> in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I helped President Trump start the fight in 2016. I&rsquo;m running for Congress to help him finish it,&rdquo; Collins wrote on X.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3831935\/madison-cawthorn-announces-run-florida-house-seat-byron-donalds\/\">CAWTHORN ANNOUNCES RUN FOR FLORIDA HOUSE SEAT TO BE VACATED BY DONALDS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wild-redistricting-to-give-democrats-more-house-seats-brazen-attempt-at-rigging-election-to-keep-pelosi-speaker\/\" title=\"Wild Redistricting To Give Democrats More House ...s: \u2018Brazen Attempt\u2019 At \u2018Rigging\u2019 Election To Keep Pelosi Speaker\">19th district<\/a>, encompassing cities like Naples and Cape Coral, has been a Republican stronghold since 2012 after the state&rsquo;s redistricting. Donalds has held the seat since 2020, winning in 2024 by over 32 percentage points.<\/p>\n<p>Collins&rsquo;s bid puts him in a crowded Republican primary, where he faces another controversy-ridden former congressman who relocated to the Sunshine State, former Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3831935\/madison-cawthorn-announces-run-florida-house-seat-byron-donalds\/\">Madison Cawthorn<\/a> (R-NC). There are over half a dozen other Republicans who have declared they are running for the seat, as well.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump&#8217;s first backer Chris Collins seeks Florida House<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2549574,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP20358030747499.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[39067,71803,58419,43492,41215],"class_list":["post-2549573","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-campaign-announcement","tag-chris-collins","tag-comeback-bid","tag-florida-politics","tag-u-s-house"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP20358030747499.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2549573","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2549573"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2549573\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2549577,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2549573\/revisions\/2549577"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2549574"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2549573"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2549573"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2549573"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}