Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appoints politically influential figure as his new top deputy, likening him to action star Chuck Norris in the Florida political arena.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Jay Collins as Lieutenant Governor
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed state Senator Jay Collins as his Lieutenant Governor. Collins, a Republican from Tampa and a decorated Army Special Forces veteran, will take on the ceremonial role and serve as the next in line for the gubernatorial succession.
Collins, born in a small Montana community near the Saskatchewan border, grew up in a trailer but emphasizes that in the United States, one is not defined by their upbringing. After serving over two decades in the military, he earned the Purple Heart for combat service in Afghanistan, Iraq, and South America.
Upon retiring from the military, Collins founded a nonprofit supporting veterans, first responders, and Floridians in need. In 2022, he was elected to the Florida Senate, defeating an incumbent Democrat. His political career has been marked by conservative achievements, earning him the title of the "Chuck Norris of Florida Politics."
Collins' military background and political alignment have made him a prominent figure in Florida politics. He was involved in feeding people and helping displaced residents through his charity during hurricanes that struck the lower Gulf Coast. He also helped command Florida's evacuation of Jewish Americans from Israel after a terror attack.
Ron DeSantis praised Collins' bravery in battle, where he earned the Bronze Star, and commended him for his principled conservatism and productivity as a legislator. Collins fills the vacancy left by former Lt. Governor Jeanette Nuñez, who departed Tallahassee to take the job of president of Florida International University.
While the lieutenant governor role in Florida is largely ceremonial, Collins will also serve duties assigned by the governor, similar to what Nuñez did overseeing health and cybersecurity initiatives. There is speculation that Collins could be a leading Republican contender to succeed DeSantis as governor in 2026, potentially competing with Trump-endorsed U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds.
The DeSantis-Collins team is the only all-veteran executive state leadership pair in the country. Ron DeSantis, who served as a judge advocate general (JAG) officer for the U.S. Navy and a rules-of-engagement legal advisor to Seal Team One during President George W. Bush's Iraq "surge," shares a deep military connection with Collins.
Charles Creitz, a reporter for the website Digital, has covered the developments surrounding Collins' appointment. A Pennsylvania native, Creitz graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism and joined Digital in 2013 as a writer and production assistant. He covers media, politics, and culture.
[1] Florida Politics [2] Tampa Bay Times [3] Miami Herald [4] Orlando Sentinel [5] Pew Research Center
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