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2w ago

DeSantis Taps Jay Collins as Florida’s Lieutenant Governor

Filling a February vacancy, the pick elevates a decorated veteran positioned as a leading contender in Florida’s GOP succession contest.

DeSantis Picks State Sen. Jay Collins to Be Florida’s Lieutenant Governor
Jay Collins attends the first day of the legislative session at the Florida State Capitol on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Tallahassee, Florida. (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/TNS)
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Overview

  • DeSantis formally introduced Collins at a Tampa news conference Tuesday, where the senator was sworn in moments later.
  • A Montana native and Purple Heart recipient, Collins served over two decades in Army Special Forces and later founded a nonprofit supporting veterans and first responders.
  • First elected to the Florida Senate in 2022, Collins has been a key ally in advancing the governor’s conservative agenda.
  • The lieutenant governor post carries limited formal duties beyond assuming the governorship if the governor cannot serve.
  • Collins’s elevation sets the stage for a potential contest with President Trump’s endorsed candidate, Rep. Byron Donalds, ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial race.