Jay Collins is a Republican candidate for governor of Florida in the 2026 election. He is scheduled to appear on the ballot in the Republican primary on August 18, 2026.
Collins currently serves as Florida’s lieutenant governor. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him to the position on August 12, 2025, following the departure of former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez. Collins resigned from his seat representing District 14 in the Florida Senate to accept the appointment, becoming Florida’s 21st lieutenant governor.
Before joining the DeSantis administration, Collins served in the Florida Senate, where he chaired committees overseeing agriculture and transportation. His legislative work focused on infrastructure, farming, veterans, first responders and education. Collins has said he authored or helped pass more than 55 pieces of legislation and secured more than $120 million for projects benefiting the Tampa Bay area, veterans, first responders and educational institutions.
Among the issues Collins promoted in the Legislature were investments in transportation infrastructure, protections for agricultural land and a state prohibition on the production and sale of cultivated meat. His political career began when he ran for the District 14 Senate seat, which he ultimately won without appearing on the general-election ballot after facing no remaining opposition.
Collins is a retired Army Special Forces combat veteran who served in the United States Army from 1995 to 2018. He sustained serious combat-related injuries that resulted in the loss of a leg but continued serving as a Green Beret for five years following the amputation. He retired after more than 23 years in the military.
Following his military career, Collins worked as chief programs officer for Operation BBQ Relief, a nonprofit organization that provides meals to communities affected by natural disasters. In that role, he helped oversee the distribution of millions of meals and participated in programs supporting veterans and their families.
Born in Scobey, Montana, Collins earned a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from American Military University in 2010 and a graduate degree from Norwich University in 2012. He is married to Layla Collins, a retired military veteran who served for 20 years. The couple has two sons, Gabe and Colt.
