Jay Collins Says He’s Open To Being Appointed Florida’s Lieutenant Governor

by Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix

Hillsborough County Republican state Sen. Jay Collins is one of Ron DeSantis’ top allies in the Legislature’s upper chamber, so might the governor consider naming him as the state’s next lieutenant governor?

DeSantis hasn’t tipped his hand in any direction to date in terms of who he is considering to fill not only the LG position that has been vacant since Jeanette Nuñez departed to lead Florida International University in February, but also the chief financial officer seat that has remained empty since Jimmy Patronis resigned shortly before he was elected to serve as the U.S. representative in Florida’s 6th Congressional District last month.

POLITICO reported in late April that DeSantis is likely to select Hernando County Republican Sen. Blaise Ingoglia to succeed Patronis as CFO, although the timing remains uncertain with the Legislature now extending its regular session to contend with the serious disagreement between the two chambers about the state budget.

There hasn’t been much speculation about the lieutenant governor’s position, but Collins, like Ingoglia, is considered one of the governor’s closest supporters in the Senate.

“We haven’t had a direct conversation on that,” Collins told the Phoenix on Wednesday. “If my name’s in the running, that’s an incredible honor.”

Collins said that if the governor wants him in that role, “I’m sure we’ll have the appropriate conversation when the time comes. I think we’ve heard him say he’s really hyper focused right now on this budget, which is critical.”

He equally is focused on the House and Senate coming together to resolve their differences, Collins said.

“I’m really focused on getting the job done, but if that conversation happens, we’ll have it. It’s an honor to serve our state and I’d be happy to do it,” he said.

‘Perform such duties’

Per Article IV, Section 2 of the Florida Constitution, the lieutenant governor “shall perform such duties pertaining to the office of governor as shall be assigned by the governor.” Other parts of the state Constitution say that, upon impeachment “or during the governor’s physical or mental incapacity, the lieutenant governor shall act as governor.”

No other specific duties are assigned to the lieutenant governor, but most have been given specific assignments during their tenure. Nuñez was appointed by DeSantis as chair of the Florida Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission at the beginning of their first term together in 2019, and in 2019 and again in 2023 to chair the Space Florida Board of Directors.

Collins has served in the Florida Senate since 2022. A decorated Army Special Forces veteran and Purple Heart recipient who served more than two decades in the U.S. Army, he initially decided to run for Congress against Democrat Kathy Castor in 2021. After redistricting occurred in early 2022, he then filed to run in Florida’s 15th Congressional District.

However, he was recruited by Florida Republicans to challenge Democratic incumbent Janet Cruz in the Florida Senate District 14 seat in Hillsborough County in the fall of 2022, with the full backing of DeSantis. He ended up winning the seat by 10 points.

DeSantis said in Tampa on Monday that he was intent on appointing replacements for lieutenant governor and chief financial officer once the regular legislative session ends — which, of course, hasn’t happened yet.

“Now, it doesn’t mean at this juncture that I couldn’t do anything before a budget gets laid on the desk, but I also just am mindful that there’s still work to be done, and I just want to make sure that we kind of see that process through. But we will do it, and that will happen, you know, relatively soon,” the governor said.

Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com.