Just hours before Florida voters head to the polls to vote in the primary election for statewide offices, Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins, who is running for governor to replace term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis, announced who will be his second-in-command if he wins.
Just after 6 p.m. Monday night, Lt. Gov. Collins announced that Kevin Guthrie will run alongside him in the election going forward.
I’m proud to announce @KevinGuthrieFL as my running mate for Lieutenant Governor of Florida.
Kevin and I didn’t meet at a fundraiser. We met on a mission. He’s spent his career running toward the problem, from 23 years in law enforcement to leading Florida through hurricanes,… pic.twitter.com/HNv9V2D1D5
— Jay Collins (@JayCollinsFL) August 17, 2026
The polls open at 7 a.m. Tuesday, just over 12 hours after Collins made the announcement.
"Kevin and I didn't meet at a fundraiser. We met on a mission," Collins wrote in an X post announcing the decision. "He's spent his career running toward the problem, from 23 years in law enforcement to leading Florida through hurricanes, disasters, and some of our toughest moments."
Guthrie is currently the executive director of the Florida Department of Emergency Management, which primarily deals with natural disasters in the state, and was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis in May 2021 before Collins entered the lieutenant governorship.
Before his appointment, Guthrie was the chief of staff and then deputy director for the natural disaster agency.
"This office will not be ceremonial," Collins wrote about the lieutenant governorship if he wins the gubernatorial election in an X post announcing Guthrie as his running mate. "Together, we will protect our infrastructure, protect our people, and make sure Florida is ready for whatever comes next."
In Tuesday's primary, Collins will face off against several candidates vying for the governorship, but his biggest competitor is Representative Byron Donalds, who is leading in the most recent polls for the Republican primary.
In a Quantus Insights poll conducted in late July, Donalds led the field by 34 percentage points with Collins in second.
Half of those polled chose Donalds as their pick for the governorship, compared to the 16% who chose Collins.
If Collins can change those numbers around, he will face off against the Democratic primary winner in the November election with Guthrie at his side.
