Gov. Ron DeSantis taps Jay Collins to be lieutenant governor of Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Aug. 12 named state Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, as Florida's next lieutenant governor, ending a six-month vacancy in the position.
Jeanette Nuñez, the previous lieutenant governor, left the office in February to be interim president of Florida International University in Fort Lauderdale. She has since become the permanent president.
Collins, a former Green Beret who lost his leg in service and a state senator since 2022, is a staunch DeSantis ally. They also share a military background: DeSantis was a Navy JAG officer. DeSantis' announcement came during an news conference at the Tampa Green Beret Association.
More: Out yesterday, in today: DeSantis to speak at Republican National Convention
His appointment signals a legacy-building move on the part of the term-limited governor, setting Collins up as a standard-bearer who could challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, endorsed by President Donald Trump, in the 2026 Florida gubernatorial primary.
DeSantis hasn't endorsed Donalds, who started his campaign in February, and a decision by Florida first lady Casey DeSantis to run to succeed her husband, which has been speculated for months, hasn't materialized.
The post of lieutenant governor, which has no set duties except to take over as governor when needed, pays $135,516 per year. The governor earns $141,400 per year.
The Florida Constitution says the person in the role "shall perform such duties pertaining to the office of governor as shall be assigned by the governor, except when otherwise provided by law, and such other duties as may be prescribed by law."
Nuñez, for example, chaired the Space Florida Board of Directors, "oversaw the Florida Department of Health, led the Florida Cybersecurity Advisory Council, and served on the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking."
Who is Jay Collins?
Jarrid "Jay" Collins, 47, is an Army combat veteran and a state senator representing Hillsborough County in west-central Florida.
Born in Scobey, Montana, and raised by his grandparents, Collins earned a bachelor of science degree in health sciences and pre-medicine from American Military University and a master of science in organizational leadership from Norwich University.
In 1995, Collins began a career in the U.S. Army Special Forces as a medic, according to the Green Beret PAC. He was deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and South America. During his 23 years of service, his leg was injured and eventually amputated, but he requalified as a Green Beret and served more than five more years before retiring as a first sergeant.
Collins was elected to the Florida state Senate in November 2022 after dropping out of a U.S. House race that at one point had eight Republican candidates.
More: Governor races are set to be major referendums on Trump vs. Democrats
Collins serves as chair of the state's Senate Transportation Committee and has submitted a steady list of sponsored bills, including successful bills to allow concealed carry in Florida without a permit, add more restrictions on dangerous dogs, updates to veterans benefits and a requirement for student drivers to complete the driver's education course before they receive their learner's permit. A bill to relax Florida's child labor laws this year died in committee.
Collins joins other DeSantis loyalists as political appointees
When the Florida Legislature passed a sweeping immigration bill in January in defiance of DeSantis' more aggressive requests — which the governor promptly vetoed — Collins was one of the 16 senators who voted against the bill, joining then-state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, a Republican whom DeSantis appointed as Florida's chief financial officer on July 16.
Collins also publicly defended the governor and his wife when Florida state House Republicans accused the fundraising arm of Casey DeSantis' Hope Florida state program of illegally funneling part of a $67 million Medicaid contractor settlement to a political committee controlled by the governor's then-chief of staff (and now state attorney general) James Uthmeier to help defeat a 2024 constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana.
Uthmeier was named Florida's state attorney general by DeSantis after he tapped Ashley Moody for the U.S. Senate, taking over for Marco Rubio, whom Trump named U.S. secretary of State. State Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson is the only elected member of the Florida Cabinet.
Collins and his wife Layla have two sons, Gabe and Colt. His appointment also creates a vacancy in the Senate that will have to be filled by special election.
This story contains previously published material. Jim Rosica contributed additional reporting. Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer.
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