Ron DeSantis just picked one lieutenant governor who could change everything in 2026

Ron DeSantis knows his time as Florida governor is coming to an end.

Term limits mean he can’t run again in 2026, but the political chess master isn’t going quietly.

And DeSantis just picked one lieutenant governor who could change everything in 2026.

DeSantis taps war hero with serious political potential

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made waves this week when he appointed Jay Collins as the state’s new lieutenant governor, replacing Jeanette Nuñez who stepped down to lead Florida International University.

But this wasn’t just a routine personnel change.

Collins brings something to the table that has political insiders talking – and Democrats worried.

The 47-year-old Collins served more than 20 years as a Green Beret, earning the Purple Heart, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, and Combat Infantry Badge during tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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An improvised explosive device in Afghanistan cost Collins one of his legs, but it didn’t slow down his service to his country.

Since 2022, Collins has served in the Florida State Senate representing part of Hillsborough County after DeSantis personally recruited him to run.

“Jay has been clear: This has been about doing a mission. Politics will take care of itself,” DeSantis said during a Tampa press conference.¹

Collins assumed the lieutenant governor role on Tuesday, and DeSantis wasted no time showcasing his new number two.

The timing isn’t coincidental

DeSantis rolled out the red carpet for Collins with a campaign-style video that had political observers doing double takes.

The governor’s enthusiasm for his new lieutenant governor raised eyebrows across Florida’s political establishment.

“A lot of the people that didn’t know much about him were really blown away by his story,” DeSantis explained. “He definitely has the ingredients to be a compelling candidate that would grab attention.”²

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Those weren’t the words of a governor simply filling a vacant position.

This was DeSantis positioning Collins as a serious player in Florida’s political future.

The timing makes perfect sense when you consider what’s brewing for 2026.

U.S. Representative Byron Donalds has already jumped into the gubernatorial race with President Donald Trump’s endorsement and more than $22 million in campaign funds.³

But DeSantis has conspicuously avoided endorsing Donalds – and now we know why.

Collins brings the kind of record Republicans love

Collins didn’t waste any time making his mark in the state Senate.

He pushed through legislation allowing teenagers to work longer hours on school nights – the kind of pro-business move that drives Democrats crazy but makes perfect sense to conservatives who believe in work ethic.⁴

Collins also backed DeSantis when the governor cracked down on illegal immigration this year.

Remember when DeSantis gave Trump the grand tour of “Alligator Alcatraz” – that immigration detention facility? Collins was right there with them.⁵

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The guy’s got serious military credentials and he’s not afraid to vote on the tough stuff that actually matters to conservative voters.

DeSantis has transformed Florida from a purple swing state into a Republican stronghold during his tenure.

After winning his first gubernatorial race by less than 33,000 votes in 2018, DeSantis crushed former Governor Charlie Crist by more than 1.5 million votes in 2022.⁶

The governor’s policies – including keeping Florida open during the COVID-19 period – helped attract Republican voters from across the country.

DeSantis also managed something that seemed impossible just a few years ago: winning over Latino voters in a big way.

He captured 58% of the Hispanic vote in 2022 in a state with a growing Latino population.⁷

Democrats smell trouble

Watch how fast Democrats attack someone and you’ll know exactly how much they fear them.

Nikki Fried, the state party chair, went nuclear on Collins within hours of the announcement.

She called him “a disaster for Floridians” and “nothing more than a rubber stamp” for DeSantis.⁸

When Democrats start throwing around words like “disaster” and “extremism,” they’re not really worried about policy.

They’re worried about losing elections.

When Democrats start attacking someone this quickly and this harshly, it usually means they see a real threat.

Fried’s statement hit all the typical leftist talking points – accusing Collins of being anti-worker and somehow connected to Confederate flags.

But her real concern isn’t Collins’ legislative record.

What really scares them? DeSantis found someone who can keep the winning streak going.

What about Casey DeSantis?

For months, everyone assumed Casey DeSantis would run for governor.

Her husband certainly thinks she’d crush it: “She would do better than me. Like, there’s no question about that.”⁹

But bringing Collins into the lieutenant governor’s office changes the math.

But with Collins now in the lieutenant governor’s chair, those plans seem to be shifting.

“That’s not anything she has ever outwardly sought. She’s really happy making a difference,” DeSantis said when asked about his wife’s political future.¹⁰

The governor made it clear that any talk about Casey DeSantis running has come from outside pressures, not from her own ambitions.

DeSantis made his choice. Collins gets the platform, the profile, and the head start.

The long game

DeSantis isn’t done with politics after 2027.

His presidential run didn’t work out in 2024, but 2028 is wide open.

Having a loyal governor in Tallahassee would give DeSantis serious advantages if he wants another shot at the White House.

Collins brings military credibility and conservative credentials – exactly what plays well in Republican primaries.

Plus, DeSantis has already shown Trump he’s willing to be a team player on immigration and other key issues.

This positions both DeSantis and Collins as team players within the broader America First movement.

The smart money says DeSantis is playing the long game here.

By elevating Collins now, he’s giving voters more than a year to get comfortable with the idea of Lieutenant Governor Collins becoming Governor Collins.

It’s a calculated move that shows DeSantis hasn’t lost his political instincts – even as his time in Tallahassee winds down.

¹ Gray Rohrer, “Florida Gov. DeSantis hails Lt. Gov. Jay Collins’ story, but says politics can wait,” USA Today Network – Florida, August 13, 2025.

² Ibid.

³ Jacob Adams, “DeSantis Names New Deputy Who Could Be Political Heir,” The Daily Signal, August 13, 2025.

⁴ – ⁷ Ibid.

⁸ Florida Democratic Party, “FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONDEMNS RON DESANTIS APPOINTMENT OF JAY COLLINS TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR POST,” August 13, 2025.

⁹ Adams, “DeSantis Names New Deputy Who Could Be Political Heir.”

¹⁰ Mitch Perry, “DeSantis says Jay Collins has ‘the ingredients’ to become a ‘compelling candidate’,” Florida Phoenix, August 13, 2025.