Prediction Edge
Republican
Jay Collins

Jay Collins

Visit Website

Overview

Current roleLieutenant Governor

PartyRepublican

Political ideologyConservative Republican

Age50 years old (Apr 28, 1976)

GenderMale

Show more

LocationFlorida

BackgroundPolitician

EducationAmerican Military University (B.S., Health Sciences/Pre-Medicine)

Notable personal detailsJarrid “Jay” Collins is a Florida Republican politician and retired U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Beret) veteran who has served as Florida’s lieutenant governor since August 12, 2025. He previously served in the Florida Senate after winning election in 2022. After retiring from the Army following more than two decades of service, he worked in disaster-relief nonprofit operations, including with Operation BBQ Relief. He is married to Layla Collins and has children.

SourcesShow
flgov.comen.wikipedia.orgpolitifact.comwusf.orgapnews.comflsenate.goves.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia-on-ipfs.orgelectionline.orgmiamiherald.comcbsnews.combaynews9.comcubaheadlines.comusf.eduracca-florida.orgreddit.comnews4jax.comnewspressnow.comjayforflorida.comclickorlando.comfloridaphoenix.comfloridianpress.comlifesitenews.comcltampa.comfloridapolitics.comwcjb.comguns.comflvoicenews.comwptv.compolitico.comsfchronicle.comaxios.combostonglobe.comwashingtonpost.comcdn.ballotpedia.orgtwitter.comballotready.orgsenate.govcollins.senate.govnga.orgcongress.govdocquery.fec.govcrow.house.govgovinfo.govwikidata.orgfec.govbean.house.govaging.senate.govdemocrats-science.house.govdemocrats-energycommerce.house.gov

Positions

LiberalConservative

Economy & Taxes

Jay Collins supports tax relief and pro-business tax changes, emphasizing property tax relief and measures intended to lower taxes for businesses. He has defended proposals to eliminate or reduce property taxes and highlighted the importance of improving Florida’s business climate and economy.

Healthcare

Jay Collins has highlighted parental rights, vaccine transparency/choice, and related public-health messaging in his public role as Florida lieutenant governor and on the campaign trail, but I did not find clear policy statements on major healthcare-system proposals (e.g., Medicaid expansion, ACA, Medicare for All, or specific market-based reforms).

Show more

Immigration & Border

Jay Collins supports aggressive immigration enforcement and coordinated state-federal operations to identify, detain, and deport undocumented immigrants. He has traveled to assist in extradition of an undocumented truck driver and has promoted and participated in large-scale enforcement operations that led to hundreds of deportations. Collins has pledged to continue building on Governor DeSantis’s enforcement-focused immigration agenda in office and in campaign activity.

Abortion & Reproductive Rights

Jay Collins describes himself as pro-life, has opposed Florida Amendment 4 which would have enshrined broad abortion rights, and has supported Florida’s heartbeat/6‑week restrictions while backing pro-life policies. His public statements emphasize restricting abortion access and protecting unborn children.

Climate & Energy

Jay Collins sponsored legislation that removes references to greenhouse gas reduction from state energy law, bans certain offshore wind development, advances protections for natural gas appliances, and prioritizes grid reliability and expanded use of nuclear and hydrogen technologies. His legislative actions emphasize protecting fossil-fuel infrastructure and limiting wind development while studying advanced nuclear and hydrogen options.

Public Safety & Guns

Jay Collins has sponsored and publicly promoted legislation that removes concealed-carry permitting requirements (permitless or “constitutional” carry) and has backed efforts to lower the minimum firearm purchase age to 18. He frames these actions as restoring Second Amendment rights and has supported rollbacks of post-Parkland gun restrictions while emphasizing support for law enforcement and public safety measures paired with those changes.

Polls

Florida Republican Governor nominee?
Polling Average
50%40%30%20%10%0%
6.0%
40.9%
18.9%
Jay Collins
J. Collins
Byron Donalds
B. Donalds
Casey DeSantis
C. DeSantis
Paul Renner
P. Renner
Wilton Simpson
W. Simpson
Charles Burkett
C. Burkett
Date (Start - End)SpreadCollinsDonaldsDeSantisRennerSimpsonBurkett
Polling Average
Donalds+34.9
6.0%40.9%18.9%3.1%3.0%0.4%
The Public Sentiment InstituteJun 8 - 9
Donalds+26.3
11.0%37.3%–3.9%––
Change ResearchMay 13 - 16
Donalds+40.0
8.0%48.0%–3.0%––
Fabrizio, Lee & AssociatesApr 26 - 30
Donalds+47.0
7.0%54.0%–2.0%––
Stetson University Center for Public Opinion ResearchMar 25 - Apr 13
Donalds+32.0
6.0%38.0%–7.0%––
Tarrance GroupMar 30 - Apr 2
Donalds+44.0
6.0%50.0%–3.0%––
Emerson CollegeMar 29 - 31
Donalds+39.2
4.3%43.5%6.7%2.0%–0.5%
Emerson CollegeMar 29 - 31
Donalds+42.3
4.1%46.4%–2.7%–0.3%
The American PromiseFeb 23 - 26
Donalds+40.0
4.0%44.0%–2.0%––
University of North Florida Public Opinion Research LabFeb 16 - 20
Donalds+25.0
3.0%28.0%24.0%0.0%––
University of North Florida Public Opinion Research LabFeb 16 - 20
Donalds+27.0
4.0%31.0%–1.0%––
Targoz Market ResearchFeb 13 - 16
Donalds+18.0
15.0%33.0%–9.0%––
Mason-Dixon Polling & StrategyJan 8 - 13
Donalds+30.0
7.0%37.0%–4.0%––
Fabrizio, Lee & AssociatesJan 4 - 6
Donalds+39.0
6.0%45.0%–3.0%––
Public Opinion StrategiesDec 7 - 11
Donalds+27.0
13.0%40.0%––––
The American PromiseDec 8 - 9
Donalds+29.0
9.0%38.0%–1.0%––
The American PromiseNov 17 - 19
Donalds+42.0
1.0%43.0%–2.0%––
Victory InsightsNov 11 - 13
Donalds+43.8
1.2%45.0%–2.7%––
St. Pete PollsOct 13 - 15
Donalds+35.5
3.7%39.2%–2.7%––
St. Pete PollsOct 13 - 15
Donalds+40.6
11.5%52.1%––––
Targoz Market ResearchSep 16 - 18
DeSantis+24.0
2.0%23.0%26.0%7.0%2.0%–
The Tyson GroupSep 4 - 5
Donalds+38.0
2.0%40.0%–2.0%––
St. Pete PollsJul 8 - 10
Donalds+41.5
2.1%43.6%–2.9%4.1%–

Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne

New updates coming soon

We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.

  • News
  • Endorsements
  • Fundraising