Collins brands leadership under pressure as a core asset, citing more than two decades in the Army Special Forces and a prosthetic-enabled leg after an amputation.

His background also includes overcoming homelessness in high school, a lengthy Army career, and leadership roles with Operation BBQ Relief, including support for evacuation flights during regional tensions.

In his Facebook announcement, Collins highlighted his military service and Green Beret experience as shaping his commitment to public trust.

Polls indicate Collins’ multimillion-dollar ad buy has made little impact, with just a minority of voters recalling his ads.

As lieutenant governor, Collins has pursued high-profile actions, such as extraditing a homicide suspect to California, and has faced mixed national coverage including criticism over remarks about DeSantis’s Asperger’s syndrome.

DeSantis’s public handling and relationship with Collins have drawn attention, with reporting on the governor’s stance and potential involvement in Collins’s campaign.

DeSantis previously praised Collins for alignment on immigration, election-law reform, hurricane relief, and aid to Israel as Collins built his political profile.

Collins argues his administration would build on DeSantis’s record, emphasizing law enforcement, public safety, and tangible results rather than chasing headlines.

Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins officially launched a 2026 bid to become governor, aiming to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis and facing a Trump-backed challenge from U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds in a crowded Republican primary.

Early polls show Donalds ahead in a large field, drawing increasing national attention to Florida’s GOP primary.

Other Republican contenders include former Speaker Paul Renner and James Fishback, while Democrats Jerry Demings and David Jolley are also running.

The story update notes Collins’s ties to Operation BBQ Relief and a new DEI policy as part of the coverage.