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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that state Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa—an amputee combat veteran often called the “Chuck Norris of Florida politics”—will become his second-in-command in Tallahassee. The pairing makes DeSantis and Collins the only all-veteran governor-lieutenant governor team in the nation.
DeSantis commended Collins’ military service, highlighting his Bronze Star and Purple Heart earned as a Green Beret during the War on Terror, as well as deployments to South America. Collins, in turn, noted that DeSantis rarely speaks about his own Navy service as a JAG officer and legal advisor to Seal Team One during the Iraq “surge.”
Collins, who lost a leg in Afghanistan—remarking, “I didn’t lose a leg; I know where it is”—also played a key role in evacuating Jewish Americans from Israel after the October 7, 2023, Gazan terror attack. While DeSantis coordinated the mission from Tallahassee, Collins traveled to Israel and Jordan to assist evacuees in returning to Tampa Bay.
“As our state senator from Tampa, he’s been a man of action,” DeSantis said. “He has delivered conservative wins and I think has been one of the most productive senators we have had in modern Florida history and on all the big issues. He not only was an ally of mine, he was standing up for you.”
The governor praised Collins’ volunteer work during Gulf Coast hurricanes, when he provided meals and aid to displaced residents through his charity. “Sen. Jay Collins is the Chuck Norris of Florida politics. And I am proud to announce today that I am appointing him to be the next lieutenant governor of the ‘Free State of Florida.’”
Collins expressed gratitude for the appointment, saying, “I really want to thank the governor and the first lady for their trust and their faith in myself and our family.” He shared his personal story, explaining he was adopted, raised by his grandparents, lost his father at a young age, and chose to serve the country that gave him the chance to rise above those challenges.
“You see, I grew up in a trailer, but in our nation, you’re not defined by that. There are opportunities ahead of everybody,” Collins said.
Collins replaces former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, who earlier this year became president of Florida International University.
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