Reading the tea leaves on Florida's next LG

Politico

25-06-2025

Good morning and welcome to Wednesday.
Gov. RON DESANTIS has been able to shuffle personnel around the top levels of state government this year. One opening that still remains, though, is the No. 2 job in Tallahassee: lieutenant governor.
The most likely contender is Republican state Sen. JAY COLLINS of Hillsborough County, according to a dozen people close to the deliberations. The decision isn't final, the people cautioned, and others considered for the role include former House Speaker JOSE OLIVA and New College of Florida President RICHARD CORCORAN.
The selection is being closely watched because it could signal the governor may get behind that person to run for governor in 2026. He so far has snubbed President DONALD TRUMP's selection of Rep. BYRON DONALDS for the job, and Florida first lady CASEY DESANTIS is still deciding whether she'll run. (One of the more far-fetched rumors swirling around Tallahassee is that the governor might appoint his wife to be lieutenant governor.)
DeSantis has been without a No. 2 since February, after JEANETTE NUÑEZ accepted the top job at Florida International University. But Collins has been a key surrogate for DeSantis in the state Senate, including his defense of Hope Florida as the program faced scrutiny from his GOP colleagues.
Collins traveled to the Middle East last week to help the governor's office organize rescue flights for Americans to flee Israel. He had a difficult upbringing, born to a mother who was addicted to drugs and raised by his grandparents. He lost his father at a young age and lived out of his car for a time when he was in high school.
He's also a former Green Beret and decorated combat veteran who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan during his 23 years in the military. Collins had part of his leg amputated during his military service but spent five more years with the Green Berets after that.
'He's well respected by the entire Legislature because of his military service,' said one Republican lobbyist, granted anonymity to discuss private conversations regarding the role. 'Even though he is relatively new to public office, he's a tenacious advocate who is also likable and principled. It's hard to attack a guy like him who has sacrificed so much purely because of his beliefs in democracy.'
But there's other important factors. Collins has been a reliable ally and staunch defender of DeSantis after the governor backed him in his bid for the state Senate. Collins is also willing to step into the job if given the slot. It's not clear if some of the other names recently mentioned are as eager to take the post of lieutenant governor, which does not really have any defined duties.
'There's no shortage of famous people who the governor wants, but there appears to be only one person who wants it — and that's Jay,' said one veteran Florida Republican operative, granted anonymity to speak candidly.
DeSantis initially suggested he would make some of his key outstanding appointments — which includes both LG and chief financial officer — after this year's legislative session was over. This week, the governor said he was focusing on going through the budget that lawmakers finally passed last week. There's also a possibility he could leave the 2nd spot open for a while — something former Gov. RICK SCOTT did.
Last Friday, DeSantis raved about Collins during an early morning press conference he held in Tampa to welcome people back from Israel. DeSantis said he had done a 'great job' and had a 'tremendous record.' And noting his recent work abroad, DeSantis said Collins is 'almost like an action figure in terms of him springing into action, running into the fire and helping people in their time of need.'
When asked about the possibility of becoming LG, Collins said it was an honor just for his name to be included on any potential list. But he also said, 'If the governor asks me to do that, you serve your state. How do you say no to that?'
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... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...
ICE IN THE EVERGLADES — 'Florida's headline-grabbing push to create 'Alligator Alcatraz' — an immigration detention center deep in the Everglades — happened swiftly, with little apparent notice to state legislators responsible for paying for it or to local officials who will have it on their doorstep,' reports POLITICO's Gary Fineout and Bruce Ritchie.
'It also may prove to be one of Gov. Ron DeSantis' most aggressive moves during his six-plus years in office. Citing the governor's emergency powers, the state's emergency management director told Miami-Dade County that it was taking control of an Everglades airstrip now owned by Miami-Dade County and located mainly in Collier County in order to begin building the multimillion dollar facility.'
REPEALED — 'DeSantis on Tuesday signed a bill that would repeal a 2018 law governing how local governments establish public use of beaches,' reports POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie.
'DeSantis signed the bill in Walton County repealing the law that critics said emboldened property owners to put up no-trespassing signs and order visitors off beaches. The 2018 law repealed a Walton County ordinance establishing public access based across much of its coastline. The new state law required local governments to seek review by courts before establishing access based on the judicial doctrine of 'customary use.''
— 'New flood disclosures in rental agreements are coming to Florida,' reports Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics.
— 'DeSantis signs measure shielding some court documents from public records requests,' by Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics.
NEW LAW PROPOSED — 'Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is proposing a new law named in honor of a Tallahassee girl whose stepfather allegedly murdered her while he was out on bond after his conviction of a child sex crime,' reports Jeff Burlew of the Tallahassee Democrat.
'Uthmeier announced the proposed 'Missy's Law,' named after Melissa 'Missy' Mogle, in a June 24 post on X, saying the legislation is designed to 'prevent judges from abusing their discretion.''
SOME ANSWERS EMERGE IN SURFSIDE COLLAPSE — Investigators are 'focusing on three 'higher-likelihood' hypotheses out of its initial 12, each arising from construction flaws that doomed the building,' reports Linda Robertson of the Miami Herald.
'The collapse could have been triggered by failure of a slab-column connection in the pool deck, where the structural design did not meet building code standards. Steel reinforcement was missing or misplaced and eaten away by corrosion. Heavy planters and pavers added years later to the poorly-draining deck increased the load on a support system 'that was already functionally and structurally inadequate,' the report says.'
SEVENTH EXECUTION IN FLORIDA — 'A man convicted of raping and killing a woman near a central Florida bar was executed Tuesday evening,' The Associated Press reported. 'Thomas Lee Gudinas, 51, was pronounced dead at 6:13 p.m. after receiving a lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke, said Bryan Griffin, a spokesman for DeSantis.'
PENINSULA AND BEYOND
TAKING IT BACK — 'Miami businessman and philanthropist Miguel 'Mike' Fernandez has suspended a $1 million donation to Florida International University in protest of Florida's decision to strip in-state tuition benefits from undocumented students — a policy that was until recently endorsed by FIU's new president, Jeanette Nuñez,' reports Garrett Shanley of the Miami Herald.
DEPORTATION FEARS — 'This year's immigration actions have hit Haitians living in Florida as hard as a hurricane striking the Caribbean nation they call home, leaving thousands of people afraid of arrest, deportation and separation from their families,' reports Valentina Palm of the Palm Beach Post.
'Many are on the verge of losing legal status to live and work in the United States following two Supreme Court rulings and a policy change by President Donald Trump that has blocked travel to and from Haiti.'
OVERRIDE FAILS — 'Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan vetoed legislation that would have required some city-funded nonprofit organizations to determine the immigration status of people using their programs and deny service to anyone in the U.S. illegally,' reports David Bauerlein of the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union.
'Hours after Deegan delivered her veto message to City Council on June 24, council failed to overturn the veto. Council voted 8-7 to override the veto, falling short of the two-thirds support needed by council to reverse Deegan striking down the bill.'
— ''Stinks up the house': Apalachicola in crisis with city water unfit to drink, bathe in,' reports James Call of the Tallahassee Democrat.
— 'Florida men accused of stealing more than $100 million meant for people with special needs,' reports Mark Walker of The New York Times.
— 'More people are riding Brightline — but not enough to quiet concerns about its finances,' by WLRN's Tom Hudson.
— 'Immigration advocates protest ICE agreements outside sheriffs' convention in Broward,' by Shira Moolten of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
CAMPAIGN MODE
SPECIAL ELECTION WINS — Former state Rep. LAVON BRACY DAVIS won the Democratic special election state Senate primary Tuesday night in a four-way contest. One of the candidates was her brother, former state Sen. RANDOLPH BRACY.
Because the area she's seeking to represent is heavily Democratic, Bracy Davis is likely to be sworn into the office, which was previously held by the late state Sen. GERALDINE THOMPSON, later this year. In a statement, Senate Democratic Leader LORI BERMAN praised Bracy Davis for her 'wealth of legislative experience and a long history of fighting for the rights of Floridians' and said she looked forward 'to having her join us in the fight for a more affordable Florida.'
RASHON YOUNG also won the primary over in state House District 40 — the seat Bracy Davis resigned from to run for state Senate. He'd competed against former state Rep. TRAVARIS MCCURDY. Young is Bracy Davis' former top aide whom she endorsed as her successor.
On Sept. 2, Bracy Davis will face off against Republican WILLIE MONTAGUE, founder of a faith-based rehab facility, while Young will face off against GOP TUAN LE, an aerospace engineer.
...HURRICANE HOLE...
FIRST STORM OF THE SEASON — The National Hurricane Center announced Tuesday that Tropical Storm Andrea had formed, though it's not a threat to land and should dissipate by later today.
— 'Can Florida handle hurricane recovery without federal support?' by Bea Lunardini of the Tampa Bay Times.
TRANSITION TIME
— Public affairs and lobbying firm Ballard Partners is pairing up with Global Nexus to expand into Mexico City. Their services will include public policy advocacy, regulatory affairs analysis and international market consulting.
— TARA POULTON has been promoted to chief of staff for Rep. Vern Buchanan's (R-Fla.) district offices. She was previously Buchanan's district director.
ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN
— Former Rep. MATT GAETZ and GINGER GAETZ are expecting their first child early next year, the couple announced over X.
— 'Laura Loomer airs old texts with Tucker Carlson after he brands her 'world's creepiest human,'' by Isabel Keane of the Independent.
BIRTHDAYS: Florida Supreme Court Justice Carlos Muñiz … state Sen. Bryan Avila … South Miami mayor and former state Rep. Javier Fernández.