TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, a hard-charging former Green Beret whose political career began only in 2022, announced Monday he’s joining the crowded GOP race for governor.
Collins will try to position himself as a conservative warrior and heir apparent of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, even though DeSantis has declined to endorse him after elevating Collins to lieutenant governor just a few months ago.
“I’m running for Governor because leadership is forged under pressure, not in soundbites,” Collins said in a statement he posted on X. “I served over 23 years in the United States military, mainly as a Green Beret, where accountability is real, decisions have consequences, and service comes before self. That experience shaped how I lead and why I believe public office is a public trust.” Fox News first reported on the announcement.
Collins will be joining a GOP field that already includes front-runner Rep. Byron Donalds, who already has a substantial fundraising advantage and has been endorsed by President Donald Trump. Other GOP candidates include former House speaker Paul Renner and investor James Fishback. Democrats are expected to have their own competitive primary ahead of the November elections.
Collins’ decision to enter the race is not unexpected, as he has been answering questions about a possible run for months. Late last year, a group called “Florida Fighters” began airing television ads in key Florida markets that touted Collins and his record. Collins has also started to take shots at Donalds in recent weeks.
But Collins could have an uphill climb in a race in which Donalds has already amassed tens of millions in campaign donations. Donalds has visited countless Republican Party gatherings across the state over the last few months. Tony Fabrizio, a veteran GOP pollster who did work for Trump, did an internal poll for Donalds that showed him way out in front among Republican voters — a position that grew even wider once voters were told Trump had endorsed Donalds.
Ryan Smith, the chief strategist for Donalds campaign, said Monday that "anyone running against Byron is an anti-Trump RINO and will be soundly defeated in the Republican primary."
Collins could get a boost if DeSantis were to support his second-in-command. The term-limited governor has so far stayed on the sidelines in the GOP race to succeed him.
When DeSantis appointed Collins last August, there has been speculation that DeSantis would back Collins if he chose to run. At one point, DeSantis — citing Collins combat record — called him the “Chuck Norris of Florida politics.”
But Collins did not immediately jump into the race at that time. Five Republican consultants and operatives — who were granted anonymity to talk frankly about the race — contended last week that the relationship between Collins and DeSantis has grown strained recently and that they did not anticipate an endorsement from DeSantis if Collins joined the contest.
DeSantis, who held an insurance press conference Monday morning in South Florida, was non-committal when he was asked if would back Collins. He called Collins a “good guy” who had a “conservative record” in the state Senate.
“If I get involved in the primary, you’ll know it,” DeSantis said. “So we’ll see.”
Collins has been a staunch ally of DeSantis during his time in office and has filed an array of bills backed by the governor, including legislation eliminating permits for those who carry concealed weapons.
Collins initially planned to run for Congress nearly four years ago, but switched from a run in a contested Republican primary to challenge incumbent Democrat Janet Cruz in a Tampa district. He won the immediate endorsement of DeSantis over another GOP candidate who planned to run with the backing of state Senate Republicans.
Collins, 49, grew up in poverty and was adopted by his grandparents before joining the military. During his 23 years in office, he served primarily as a medic. He lost his leg during his time in the military but was able to serve an additional five years.
“I don’t really identify as a politician,” Collins said this past weekend during the annual meeting of the Republican Party of Florida.“I am pro-gun, pro God, pro-life and I’m not going to hid from it.”
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