The latest jay collins florida update comes as Florida voters head to the polls in the Republican gubernatorial primary on August 18, 2026. Lt. Gov. Jay Collins is seeking the Republican nomination to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis, and his campaign has made a major late-stage announcement by selecting Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie as his running mate.
The decision puts two officials with extensive experience in emergency preparedness, disaster response and state operations on the same ticket. Collins is campaigning as a conservative continuation candidate with strong ties to the DeSantis administration, while Guthrie brings years of experience overseeing Florida’s emergency management system.
Jay Collins Florida Governor Campaign Enters a Critical Stage
Jay Collins is competing in a crowded Republican primary for Florida governor. The race is taking place as DeSantis prepares to leave office after reaching the state’s gubernatorial term limit.
The Republican field includes Collins, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and James Fishback, among other candidates. Donalds has entered primary day as the clear polling leader, with Collins attempting to consolidate support among voters looking for a candidate closely aligned with the current Florida administration.
Florida’s official election records show Collins qualified as a Republican candidate for governor in June 2026 after filing his campaign earlier in the year.
The timing of the Guthrie announcement is especially significant because it comes on primary day. Rather than waiting until after the Republican nomination is settled, Collins is presenting a complete gubernatorial ticket to voters as he seeks to distinguish his campaign from Donalds and the other candidates.
Kevin Guthrie Selected as Jay Collins’ Running Mate
The biggest latest development in the jay collins florida campaign is the selection of Kevin Guthrie as Collins’ running mate.
Guthrie serves as executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the state agency responsible for coordinating disaster preparedness, response and recovery. His work has placed him at the center of Florida’s response to hurricanes, flooding, wildfires and other emergencies.
Collins and Guthrie have worked together in their current state roles. Their public collaboration has included hurricane preparedness activities and emergency-response operations. In June 2026, the two appeared together at a hurricane preparedness roundtable in Miami, where officials discussed wildfire, flooding and disaster-response threats facing Florida.
Their professional relationship also extends to earlier emergency operations. During Florida-led efforts to bring residents home from Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa, Guthrie was involved in coordinating the state’s emergency response while Collins helped welcome returning Floridians in Tampa.
The pairing therefore gives Collins a running mate whose professional background closely matches one of the state’s most consequential responsibilities: preparing for and responding to disasters.
Who Is Kevin Guthrie?
Kevin Guthrie has become one of Florida’s most recognizable emergency-management officials after years of working in disaster preparedness and response.
As executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Guthrie oversees an agency that coordinates state resources during emergencies and works with local governments and other partners during disasters.
His role has brought him into the public spotlight during major hurricanes and other crises. Guthrie has also testified before Congress about emergency management and Florida’s disaster-response model.
His experience could complement Collins’ military and legislative background. Collins served more than two decades in the U.S. Army, including with Special Forces, before entering Florida politics. Guthrie, meanwhile, has built his public profile around emergency preparedness and operational response.
That combination is likely to be central to how the Collins campaign presents the ticket to Republican voters.
Jay Collins’ Military and Political Background
Collins was born in Montana and later moved to Florida. He served more than 23 years in the U.S. Army and became a Green Beret. During his military career, he suffered injuries that ultimately resulted in the loss of his leg, but he continued serving and eventually retired from the Army.
After leaving military service, Collins worked with Operation BBQ Relief, a nonprofit involved in disaster relief and providing meals to communities affected by emergencies.
He entered electoral politics in Florida and won election to the Florida Senate in 2022. He represented Senate District 14, which included part of Hillsborough County, and served on several important committees. The Florida Senate records show that he resigned from the Senate on August 12, 2025, after being appointed lieutenant governor.
Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Collins Florida’s lieutenant governor in August 2025. Collins became the state’s 21st lieutenant governor and subsequently launched his campaign for governor in January 2026.
Collins’ Campaign Message and Policy Priorities
The Collins campaign has built its platform around conservative policies, affordability, public safety, agriculture, education, veterans and emergency preparedness.
His campaign’s current platform includes an 11-point plan covering issues such as property taxes, toll costs, insurance, energy, water quality, agriculture, gun rights, foster care, school choice, security and veterans’ employment.
Among the campaign’s major priorities are:
- Property-tax relief for homeowners
- Lower insurance costs
- Toll relief for Florida drivers
- Water-quality initiatives
- Support for Florida farmers and ranchers
- Expanded school-choice and workforce programs
- Support for law enforcement and first responders
- Expanded services and employment opportunities for veterans
- Protection of Florida’s agricultural land and food supply
Agriculture has been a particularly prominent part of Collins’ campaign. He has argued that food security is closely connected to national security and has emphasized protecting farmland, strengthening Florida’s agricultural infrastructure and supporting growers.
Why Emergency Management Matters to the Collins-Guthrie Ticket
Florida’s exposure to hurricanes, flooding and other natural disasters makes emergency management an unusually important issue in statewide politics.
Collins has frequently highlighted his military and disaster-response experience, while Guthrie’s career has centered on emergency preparedness. The combination allows the campaign to emphasize operational experience rather than relying solely on traditional political credentials.
The two have already appeared together in emergency-preparedness settings. During the June 2026 hurricane preparedness roundtable, Guthrie discussed active wildfire and flood threats while Collins praised Florida’s emergency-management system.
That background could become an important part of Collins’ argument that his ticket is prepared to handle hurricanes and other emergencies from the first day of a potential administration.
Where the Republican Governor Race Stands
The Republican primary has been dominated by Byron Donalds, who has received the endorsement of President Donald Trump and entered primary day with a substantial polling advantage.
Recent polling averages have shown Donalds well ahead of Collins. RealClearPolitics’ latest compilation before the primary placed Donalds at about 48%, followed by Fishback at roughly 9% and Collins at about 8%.
Individual polls have produced different results. One July survey cited by ElectionsFLA showed Donalds at 46% and Collins at 30%, demonstrating that the polling picture has varied considerably depending on the survey and methodology.
Because polls measure voter preferences before ballots are counted, they do not determine the final outcome. The Republican nomination will ultimately be decided by Florida voters.
Primary Day Is a Major Test for Jay Collins
Florida’s Republican primary is being held on August 18, 2026, with the winner moving forward to the November 3 general election.
The primary is especially important for Collins because he entered the race with the advantage of serving as lieutenant governor but faces a better-funded and Trump-endorsed opponent in Donalds. AP has described the contest as one of the major political battles of Florida’s primary election and a test of the direction of the state’s Republican Party.
The selection of Guthrie gives Collins a final major campaign message before voters make their decision. It also makes the gubernatorial contest more directly connected to emergency management, an issue that can have significant consequences in Florida.
What the Kevin Guthrie Selection Means for the Campaign
The Guthrie choice provides Collins with a running mate who already has statewide government experience and familiarity with Florida’s emergency-response infrastructure.
It also creates a clear division of experience between the two candidates. Collins brings military service, legislative experience and the lieutenant governor’s office, while Guthrie brings executive experience in emergency management.
For voters, the announcement may make the Collins ticket easier to understand: a former Green Beret and current lieutenant governor running alongside a veteran state emergency-management leader.
The announcement does not, however, change the immediate reality of the primary. Collins still has to win the Republican nomination before the ticket can advance to the November election.
Jay Collins Florida Political Outlook
The jay collins florida campaign has reached its most consequential point with the Republican primary underway.
Collins has established himself as a major conservative figure in Florida politics after moving from the state Senate to the lieutenant governor’s office. His campaign is built around continuing many of the policies associated with the DeSantis era while adding his own emphasis on affordability, veterans, agriculture, public safety and emergency preparedness.
Choosing Kevin Guthrie adds another layer to that message. Guthrie’s background in disaster management gives the ticket an experienced government operator whose work is directly relevant to one of Florida’s most persistent challenges.
The primary results will determine whether that strategy is enough to overcome Donalds’ substantial advantage.
Latest Update on Jay Collins and the Florida Governor Race
As of the latest available information on August 18, 2026, Jay Collins remains a Republican candidate for governor and is on the ballot in Florida’s primary election. His campaign has selected Kevin Guthrie as his running mate, adding the state’s emergency-management director to the ticket.
The Republican primary remains the immediate focus. No final general-election matchup should be treated as confirmed until the primary results are officially determined.
The next major development will be the primary result and whether Collins advances to the November 3 general election. If he does, his partnership with Guthrie would become an important part of the campaign’s statewide message on public safety, disaster preparedness and government leadership.
Final Thoughts
Jay Collins has built a political career around military service, conservative legislation and executive experience in Florida government. His move from the state Senate to lieutenant governor and then into the 2026 governor’s race has made him one of the central figures in the Republican contest to succeed Ron DeSantis.
The selection of Kevin Guthrie is the campaign’s most significant late-stage development. Guthrie’s emergency-management background gives Collins a running mate with extensive experience handling some of the challenges that matter most to Florida residents.
With the Republican primary taking place today, the direction of the jay collins florida campaign will soon become clearer. Until official results are available, Collins’ electoral future remains undecided, but the Guthrie selection ensures that emergency preparedness and executive experience will be central themes of his campaign.
Stay updated with the latest Jay Collins Florida developments and share your thoughts in the comments as the 2026 governor race unfolds.