Pointing to various achievements in his personal, military, and political life, Governor Ron DeSantis called Collins the right man for the job.
"Senator Jay Collins is the Chuck Norris of Florida politics," DeSantis said Tuesday at the Tampa Green Beret Association. "I'm proud to announce that I'm appointing him to be the next lieutenant governor of the free state of Florida."
The Associated Press notes that in Florida, the lieutenant governor position is largely ceremonial, with few official responsibilities apart from taking over if the governor cannot serve. Still, Collins said he will work for all people in the state.
"I am relentless in the pursuit of excellence," he said. "Excellence is an choice. We will not falter. We will not fail. We will not stop until we keep fighting and achieve excellence in all that we do because that is the Florida standard, that is our way, and that is my promise to you."
Legal expert and radio host Jenna Ellis, who lives in Florida, thinks Gov. DeSantis made a fantastic choice.
"Jay Collins is very highly respected in the state of Florida," she tells AFN. "He has followed Gov. DeSantis's priorities for keeping this state free, and I think that with the lieutenant governor choice, that sets him up in a very good position to hopefully announce a gubernatorial run soon and to follow Gov. DeSantis in that office."
This appointment reportedly signals a legacy-building move on the part of the term-limited governor, setting Collins up as a possible challenger to Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, whom President Donald Trump has endorsed, in the 2026 primary.
Jeanette Nunez (R) was lieutenant governor, but she resigned earlier this year to serve as interim president of Florida International University (FIU).
