Polling Average
50%40%30%20%10%0%
7.3%
41.6%
18.9%
Republican
Jay Collins
Florida Republican Senate nominee?
$106.2K
AUG 19, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleLieutenant Governor
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age50 years old (Apr 28, 1976)
GenderMale
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LocationFlorida
BackgroundPolitician
EducationAmerican Military University — B.S. (Health Sciences / pre-medicine)
Notable personal detailsJarrid "Jay" Collins is an American politician and U.S. Army Special Forces veteran who served as a Republican member of the Florida Senate for District 14 from 2022 until resigning on August 12, 2025. He was appointed Florida’s 21st lieutenant governor on August 12, 2025. After retiring from the Army following more than two decades of service, he worked as a nonprofit executive with Operation BBQ Relief and later entered Florida politics.
SourcesShowHide
flsenate.govapnews.comen.wikipedia.orgwikidata.orgclubforgrowthfoundation.orghelpflvets.orgjayforflorida.comcommons.wikimedia.orglegalclarity.orges.wikipedia.orgdos.fl.govgovinfo.govivoterguide.comnews4jax.comnewspressnow.combaynews9.comflgov.comclickorlando.comfloridaphoenix.comfloridianpress.comlifesitenews.comcltampa.comfloridapolitics.comwcjb.comguns.comflvoicenews.comwptv.compolitico.comfacebook.comx.commiamiherald.commiamitimesonline.comwlrn.orgpnj.comwctv.tvnbcmiami.comwusf.orgwflx.comtallahassee.comcnn.comnews-journalonline.comsun-sentinel.comballotready.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orgfec.govcongress.govcollins.senate.govncsl.orghistory.house.govrickscott.senate.govaging.senate.govhsgac.senate.govcha.house.govcapito.senate.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Jay Collins supports tax relief and pro-business tax changes, emphasizing property tax relief and measures intended to lower taxes for businesses. He has defended proposals to eliminate or reduce property taxes and highlighted the importance of improving Florida’s business climate and economy.
Healthcare
Jay Collins has highlighted parental rights, vaccine transparency/choice, and related public-health messaging in his public role as Florida lieutenant governor and on the campaign trail, but I did not find clear policy statements on major healthcare-system proposals (e.g., Medicaid expansion, ACA, Medicare for All, or specific market-based reforms).
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Immigration & Border
Jay Collins supports aggressive immigration enforcement and coordinated state-federal operations to identify, detain, and deport undocumented immigrants. He has traveled to assist in extradition of an undocumented truck driver and has promoted and participated in large-scale enforcement operations that led to hundreds of deportations. Collins has pledged to continue building on Governor DeSantis’s enforcement-focused immigration agenda in office and in campaign activity.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Jay Collins describes himself as pro-life, has opposed Florida Amendment 4 which would have enshrined broad abortion rights, and has supported Florida’s heartbeat/6‑week restrictions while backing pro-life policies. His public statements emphasize restricting abortion access and protecting unborn children.
Climate & Energy
Jay Collins sponsored legislation that removes references to greenhouse gas reduction from state energy law, bans certain offshore wind development, advances protections for natural gas appliances, and prioritizes grid reliability and expanded use of nuclear and hydrogen technologies. His legislative actions emphasize protecting fossil-fuel infrastructure and limiting wind development while studying advanced nuclear and hydrogen options.
Public Safety & Guns
Jay Collins has sponsored and publicly promoted legislation that removes concealed-carry permitting requirements (permitless or “constitutional” carry) and has backed efforts to lower the minimum firearm purchase age to 18. He frames these actions as restoring Second Amendment rights and has supported rollbacks of post-Parkland gun restrictions while emphasizing support for law enforcement and public safety measures paired with those changes.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 22, 2026
Jay Collins is actively campaigning in the Florida governor race ahead of the Aug. 18 Republican primary, recently speaking to voters in Lakeland and highlighting his military background, legislative record, and ties to Gov. Ron DeSantis. He is also pressing a legal challenge against rival James Fishback, arguing Fishback does not meet Florida’s residency requirement and should be removed from the ballot. Collins has been making policy contrasts in the race, including criticism of Byron Donalds over AI policy and a shift toward stricter rules for data centers. He has also said he is staying in the race despite earlier speculation about whether he would drop out.
flsenate.gov+53
Articles
TTCPalm4 days ago
Governor candidate Jay Collins courts GOP voters in Lakeland stop
Neutral
BNBreitbart News Network2 months ago
Jay Collins Accused of Hypocrisy After Attacking Byron Donalds on Pro-AI Stance
Negative
WEWashington Examiner3 months ago
Jay Collins denies '100% bulls***' rumor of exiting race for Florida governor
Negative
GSGainesville Sun1 month ago
Florida governor race field is finally set
Neutral
Polls
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Florida Republican Governor nominee?
Endorsers of Jay Collins for Florida Republican Governor nominee?
Florida Police Benevolent Association
Elected official
The Florida Police Benevolent Association endorsed Jay Collins for governor.
Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum
Elected official
Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum endorsed Jay Collins for governor.
Billy Woods
Elected official
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods endorsed Jay Collins in the governor’s race.
Bob Johnson
Elected official
Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson endorsed Jay Collins for Florida governor.
Bill Leeper
Elected official
Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper endorsed Jay Collins for Florida governor.
Bobby McCallum
Elected official
Baker County Sheriff Bobby McCallum endorsed Jay Collins for Florida governor.
René Garcia
Elected official
Miami-Dade County Commissioner René Garcia endorsed Jay Collins for governor.
Volusia County Deputies Association
Elected official
The Volusia County Deputies Association endorsed Jay Collins for governor.
Christopher Blackmon
Elected official
Osceola County Sheriff Christopher Blackmon endorsed Jay Collins for Florida governor.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Fundraising