Florida Lt. Gov Jay Collins, Decorated Green Beret, Enters Race For Governor

Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins has jumped into the gubernatorial race to succeed second-term Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“I’m running for Governor because leadership is forged under pressure, not in soundbites,” Collins told Fox News Digital. “I served over 23 years in the United States military, mainly as a Green Beret, where accountability is real, decisions have consequences, and service comes before self. That experience shaped how I lead and why I believe public office is a public trust.”

“We chose to make Florida home for my family because it stands for freedom, opportunity, and personal responsibility. In the Legislature and as Lieutenant Governor, I’ve worked alongside Governor Ron DeSantis to deliver results and advance a bold, conservative agenda. I did not come to chase headlines. I came to deliver results. Standing with law enforcement. Protecting communities. And to keep Florida strong,” he added.

Last August, DeSantis appointed Jay Collins as Florida’s 21st Lieutenant Governor, filling the vacancy created by Jeanette Nuñez’s transition to the presidency of Florida International University. A former State Senator representing Tampa’s District 14, Collins has rapidly ascended the ranks of Florida leadership. During his swearing-in ceremony, Governor DeSantis underscored Collins’ reputation for toughness and resilience, famously dubbing him the “Chuck Norris of Florida politics.”

While Collins has established himself as a formidable legislative presence, his identity is fundamentally rooted in his 23 years of military service. A highly-decorated Green Beret and Purple Heart recipient, Collins’ military career is defined by extreme grit. After being shot in the arm during a firefight in Afghanistan, Collins — a senior medic — famously assisted in performing surgery on his own limb, using a war surgery manual to save it.

His resilience was tested further after a mortar blast sent him falling 25 feet, causing severe spinal and internal injuries that led to years of chronic, ischemic pain. Despite his leg “dying” to the point of being blue and hairless, Collins continued to serve until the pain became unbearable. In 2014, he underwent a leg amputation; remarkably, he re-qualified for service within a year, returning to the Green Berets for five more years of active duty. This “never-quit” ethos, forged on a farm in Montana and hardened in combat, remains the cornerstone of his political brand.

In recent interviews, including an in-depth appearance on “Facing South Florida,” Collins has leaned into his military background to discuss international diplomacy and law enforcement. Collins maintains a warrior’s perspective: “Everything is earned … competition drives excellence.”

Whether discussing constitutional originalism or the capture of foreign dictators, Collins positions himself as a leader shaped by service, emphasizing that he is “owed nothing” and is prepared to fight for Florida’s future with the same intensity he brought to the battlefield.