TALLAHASSEE—State Sen. Jay Collins isn't ruling out a run for governor in 2026, because "why would you not" want to serve in Florida's top role?
Collins spoke to reporters after Blaise Ingoglia, a leading ally to Gov. Ron DeSantis and former state senator, was officially sworn in as chief financial officer at a Monday ceremony in the state capitol.
And while Collins, a Tampa Republican, highlighted that "today is about Blaise," he also noted that there's a lot of time between now and the August 2026 primary.
"Whatever is meant to be ahead of us will be," said Collins, who had circulated the Cabinet Room minutes before the swearing-in to shake hands with every pew of politicos. "Let's not put the cart before the horse...There's a lot of things that have to happen—none of those that I have a say in right now."
When pressed on whether he'd like to be governor, Collins asked, "Why would you not?" Before highlighting his experience as a former Green Beret who knows what it means to "step up and lead."
He added that reporters should "take what you want from what I said" when one journalist noted that he hadn't said "no" to running.
Collins is among a small group of DeSantis loyalists in a state legislature rapidly drifting out of the governor's control, placing him as a likely top contender for the vacant Lieutenant Governor position. The former LG, Jeanette Nuñez, left the role earlier this year to become the president of Florida International University.
Elevating Collins to the second-in-command role would set him up to run with DeSantis' blessing, as the governor's candidate.
Though First Lady Casey DeSantis was initially thought to be the likely successor, mass scrutiny over the financials from a charity she championed may have stomped out that possibility, political insiders believe.
The only high-profile Republican in the gubernatorial race so far is Donalds, endorsed by President Donald Trump and opposed by DeSantis. Collins, who says he thinks of Donalds as a friend, also believes there's  "a long time between now and the primary, and people have choices," he said Monday.
State agricultural commissioner Wilton Simpson told The Floridian earlier this month that he hadn't ruled out a run, while former House Speaker Paul Renner told DeSantis that he was interested in pursuing the position, The Floridian first reported.
