What Jay Collins is doing in the 2026 governor’s race (so far)

Collins is a decorated former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier (Green Beret), wounded in combat and later amputee, who nevertheless served many years after and earned high military honors.
After retirement, he entered politics: served in the state Senate (District 14) starting in 2022; he sponsored legislation and established a record on conservative priorities.
On August 12, 2025, he was appointed by Ron DeSantis as the new Lieutenant Governor of Florida — a move widely interpreted as positioning him for higher office.

As lieutenant governor, Collins has signaled that he’s using the remainder of DeSantis’ term to push a conservative agenda: property-tax reform, support for law enforcement and first responders, immigration enforcement, and parts of prior health policies.
At the same time, he is “testing the waters” for a 2026 run for governor. He has publicly acknowledged that he’s evaluating whether to enter the race, saying he’s “looking into it,” and that when he does make a decision, he wants to be fully committed: “if we jump in, we will be in it to win it.”
He has begun building visibility: posting on social media with messages on what he thinks Florida needs in a governor; criticizing the likely frontrunner Byron Donalds for representing a “Fox News green-room” style of politics; and benefiting from a “dark money” group running supportive ads for him.

Being lieutenant governor gives Collins a statewide platform and administrative visibility, which are helpful if he runs statewide. The timing — with DeSantis term-limited — is seen as a pathway for continuity within the current administration’s political legacy
By aligning with DeSantis and projecting conservative, action-oriented leadership (“violence of action,” as he phrased it), Collins positions himself to appeal to the GOP base that supported DeSantis — yet he apparently aims to maintain independence, avoiding the trap of the race being cast purely as “DeSantis loyalist vs. Trump loyalist.”
A major challenge: fundraising and donor support. Political analysts note he’s behind in money raised compared with frontrunners — which limits viability unless he secures significant backing soon.

As of now, Collins has not officially declared a gubernatorial campaign. He has described his internal deliberations as “coming to a decision in the next few weeks.”
Observers indicate his hesitation could harm his chances: the longer he waits, the tighter the window to build a competitive campaign before the primary.
Meanwhile, other potential and declared candidates are solidifying their ground — meaning that if Collins does enter, he’ll face formidable competition

What to watch next

Whether Collins makes a formal campaign announcement — the “will-he/won’t-he” period is expected to end soon.
How quickly he is able to raise significant funds and secure backing from major donors (or PACs), which will heavily influence his viability.
Whether he obtains endorsement from DeSantis (or influential GOP figures), which could swing establishment support his way.
How he distinguishes his platform from rivals — not only stylistically (law-and-order, veteran credentials) but programmatically (tax reform, conservative agenda, etc.).