Party: Republican
Age: 50
Education: Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from American Military University. Graduate degree from Norwich University.
Occupation: Lieutenant Governor of Florida, appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis. Retired U.S. Army Green Beret after more than 23 years of service, including combat.
Campaign website: jayforflorida.com
Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race were asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue?
Florida families should be able to own a home and build a life, not just survive the bill. I will eliminate taxes on homesteaded property, protect essential services, speed permitting for the housing families actually need, and keep pressure on insurance costs. Local communities should not get run over by bad projects that raise bills and strain roads, water, and schools.
Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes, and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions?
Yes. I support eliminating taxes on homesteaded property. The current proposal is a step in the right direction, even if it is not as strong as Governor DeSantis wanted. As Governor, I will deliver real homestead property tax relief, protect essential services, and keep working until Florida families fully own their homes.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond?
Regulators should put Florida families first. Data centers and large loads should pay their own way. No shifting infrastructure costs onto households. Protect ratepayers, water, and reliability. Require transparency and enforceable promises. Ordinary Floridians should not get stuck with higher bills for somebody else’s project.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida?
Keep parents in charge. Public education should prepare every child for the path they choose, college, trades, or the military, not a one-size-fits-all system from Washington. Expand school choice, strengthen fundamentals, protect kids online, and build real workforce pathways so Florida students leave school ready to work, serve, and lead.
Do you agree with the current federal and state governments’ approaches to immigration enforcement? Why or why not?
Yes. I support strong federal and state immigration enforcement. Florida should cooperate fully on removals, maintain E-Verify, crack down on trafficking and fentanyl, and refuse to become a sanctuary state. Secure communities and the rule of law come first. Weak enforcement is not compassion. It is chaos.
Do you believe abortion restrictions in Florida should be more strict, less strict or stay the same?
More strict. I am 100% pro-life and we have done great work so far, including the Heartbeat law, but we must do more to protect the unborn. I also believe being fully pro-life means strengthening adoption and foster care so children have stable homes and real opportunity. Protect life, support mothers, and put children first.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida?
Water. Florida’s aquifers, springs, beaches, and long-term water supply must come first. Big projects should prove they will not drain communities or stick ratepayers with the cost. Protect the Everglades, harden infrastructure for storms, and put Florida families and natural resources ahead of reckless overbuilding.
This Voters Guide was produced by the News Collaborative of Central Florida, a collective of independent local news outlets and aligned partners working toward a more informed and engaged Central Florida.