{"id":2473827,"date":"2025-08-12T12:52:02","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T16:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-appoints-jay-collins-as-lieutenant-governor\/"},"modified":"2025-08-12T12:52:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T16:52:19","slug":"desantis-appoints-jay-collins-as-lieutenant-governor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-appoints-jay-collins-as-lieutenant-governor\/","title":{"rendered":"DeSantis appoints Jay Collins as lieutenant governor"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdesantis-appoints-jay-collins-as-lieutenant-governor%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2473827&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed Republican state Senator Jay Collins as the new lieutenant governor, filling a position that had been vacant for six months. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >previous lieutenant governor<\/a>, Jeanette Nu\u00f1ez, left the role in February to become <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">interim president<\/a> of Florida International University. desantis emphasized the importance of selecting a lieutenant governor who can definitely help deliver results for Florida and be ready to lead as governor if necessary. Collins, an Army combat veteran first elected in 2022, was sworn in shortly after the announcement. Seen as a strong ally of DeSantis, Collins has defended the governor&#8217;s wife, Casey DeSantis, in political controversies.His appointment positions him as a potential candidate for governor in the 2026 election, at a time when DeSantis has not endorsed President Trump&#8217;s preferred candidate, Rep. Byron Donalds.  <\/p>\n<div id=\"ld-4686-3758\"><\/div>\n<p><script>(function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:14832835450050406,size:[0, 0],id:\"ld-4686-3758\"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src=\"https:\/\/cdn2.decide.dev\/_js\/ajs.js\";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,\"script\",\"ld-ajs\");<\/script><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">DeSantis appoints Jay Collins as lieutenant governor, ending six-month vacancy<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2133741\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ron-desantis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Ron DeSantis<\/a> (R-FL) chose Republican state Sen. Jay Collins to be the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/no-spike-in-florida-coronavirus-cases-despite-no-mask-mandate\/\" title=\"No Spike in ... Coronavirus Cases Despite No Mask Mandate\">state&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s next lieutenant governor, ending a six-month absence.<\/p>\n<p>Former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nu&ntilde;ez left the role in February to assume the position of interim president of Florida International University.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3497179\/tim-burchett-doing-great-recovering-horse-kick-rib\/\">Tim Burchett doing &#8216;great&#8217; while recovering from horse kick to the rib<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3497262\/doj-antisemitism-gwu-investigation\/\">George Washington University held &#8216;deliberate indifference&#8217; toward antisemitism: DOJ<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3497211\/ice-applicants-increase-hiring-illegal-immigration\/\">ICE swamped with 100,000 applications in two weeks since announcing hiring blitz<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;What I was looking for is someone that can be lieutenant governor that will help us deliver more wins for the people of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Florida<\/a> &mdash; and then also that is capable of serving and leading as governor, if that need were ever to arise,&rdquo; DeSantis said at a press conference at the Tampa Green Beret Association.<\/p>\n<p>Collins, an Army combat veteran first elected in 2022, was sworn in minutes after the press event.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I want you to know that I&rsquo;ve got my sleeves rolled up, I&rsquo;ve got my running leg on, and we are ready to get things done,&rdquo; Collins said.<\/p>\n<p>Collins could be viewed as a DeSantis-backed candidate for governor  in the state&rsquo;s 2026 gubernatorial race. DeSantis has not put his weight behind President Donald <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3330423\/byron-donalds-2026-florida-governor-candidacy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Trump&rsquo;s pick<\/a>, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL).<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The goal is to help him finish the mission and keep Florida strong,&rdquo; Collins said of DeSantis, adding, &ldquo;you don&rsquo;t flinch when the next mission comes up. You just say, &lsquo;Yes, sir. Let&rsquo;s go.&rsquo;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3458858\/house-members-eye-higher-offices-2026-midterms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>HIGHER CALLING: AMBITIOUS HOUSE MEMBERS EYE PROMOTIONS IN THE 2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Collins is a staunch ally of the governor, having defended DeSantis when Florida House Republicans accused his wife, Casey DeSantis, of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3380642\/desantis-defends-casey-desantis-against-claims-hope-florida-illegally-funded-political-causes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">illegally fundraising<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Casey DeSantis had been viewed as a potential successor for governor, but she has not made any moves towards a bid.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2133741\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2133741\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DeSantis names Jay Collins lieutenant governor, filling vacancy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2473828,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AP25224559484620.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4980,61135,48079],"class_list":["post-2473827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-desantis","tag-jay-collins","tag-lieutenant-governor"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AP25224559484620.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2473827","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2473827"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2473827\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2473831,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2473827\/revisions\/2473831"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2473828"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2473827"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2473827"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2473827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}