“We are here to protect you, to stand and deliver for our people,” said Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins to the crowd at the Legacy Pointe Senior Care Center in Oviedo, Thursday. Collins paid a visit to announce the launch of “Operation: Senior Shield.” The website created by the lieutenant governor and the Department of Elder Affairs allows seniors and caregivers to sign up for alerts when new scams are uncovered. He also talked with WESH 2 News afterward in an exclusive interview about next year’s race for governor, which he is considering entering.”People want leadership. They want clarity of communication. And they want someone who, above it all, is there to protect them,” Collins said. The Republican former state senator from Tampa was sworn in on Aug. 12 as lieutenant governor. Now, just three months later, he confirms he has been exploring the race to try and succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis, with an announcement expected soon. WESH 2 News asked him if his time in the executive office would be an extension of DeSantis’s two terms. He replied, “I do agree with a lot of what he does. I think we are strong in our economy. I think we are strong in our adult education and our university systems. I think we are growing and improving in our school choice in our state education. I am proud of those things we’ve done.” Collins, a former Army medic who once helped perform surgery on his wounded arm and later lost his left leg following a combat injury, points to DeSantis’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of leadership under pressure. Collins said he knows better than most what that’s like.”Whoever the next Governor is, who, the hardest thing they are ever going to do, is whatever comes up next,” he said. “You better be prepared for what’s coming at you, because it’s going to come at you like a freight train.” A new ad, which could help bolster a Collins campaign, began airing last week and says, in part, “As a Green Beret, Jay Collins lived by that code. Even requalifying for service after losing his leg in combat.” Collins has been benefitting from the nearly seven-figure TV ad buy from a group called “Florida Fighters.” It’s a tax-exempt organization that can lobby, but cannot endorse candidates. Its mission includes “standing up to the woke agenda.” It’s been a cornerstone of DeSantis’ agenda for most of his terms as governor. Collins has said he has no idea what prompted the ads, but welcomes the support. If he decides to run, he’ll need any exposure he can get. His biggest battle in trying to win the republican nomination will be his lack of Statewide name recognition. A Nov. 13 Victory Insights poll shows Trump-endorsed South Florida congressman Byron Donalds favored by 45% of Republican voters. Former House Speaker Paul Renner is at 2.7% and Collins is in a statistical tie with James Fishback, CEO of Azoria investment firm, at 1.2% and 1.1% respectively. The winner of the Republican primary will be facing a growing field of Democratic candidates, which now includes former Florida congressman David Jolly and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.

OVIEDO, Fla. —

“We are here to protect you, to stand and deliver for our people,” said Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins to the crowd at the Legacy Pointe Senior Care Center in Oviedo, Thursday.

Collins paid a visit to announce the launch of “Operation: Senior Shield.”

The website created by the lieutenant governor and the Department of Elder Affairs allows seniors and caregivers to sign up for alerts when new scams are uncovered.

He also talked with WESH 2 News afterward in an exclusive interview about next year’s race for governor, which he is considering entering.

“People want leadership. They want clarity of communication. And they want someone who, above it all, is there to protect them,” Collins said.

The Republican former state senator from Tampa was sworn in on Aug. 12 as lieutenant governor.

Now, just three months later, he confirms he has been exploring the race to try and succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis, with an announcement expected soon.

WESH 2 News asked him if his time in the executive office would be an extension of DeSantis’s two terms.

He replied, “I do agree with a lot of what he does. I think we are strong in our economy. I think we are strong in our adult education and our university systems. I think we are growing and improving in our school choice in our state education. I am proud of those things we’ve done.”

Collins, a former Army medic who once helped perform surgery on his wounded arm and later lost his left leg following a combat injury, points to DeSantis’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of leadership under pressure. Collins said he knows better than most what that’s like.

“Whoever the next Governor is, who, the hardest thing they are ever going to do, is whatever comes up next,” he said. “You better be prepared for what’s coming at you, because it’s going to come at you like a freight train.”

A new ad, which could help bolster a Collins campaign, began airing last week and says, in part, “As a Green Beret, Jay Collins lived by that code. Even requalifying for service after losing his leg in combat.”

Collins has been benefitting from the nearly seven-figure TV ad buy from a group called “Florida Fighters.”

It’s a tax-exempt organization that can lobby, but cannot endorse candidates. Its mission includes “standing up to the woke agenda.” It’s been a cornerstone of DeSantis’ agenda for most of his terms as governor.

Collins has said he has no idea what prompted the ads, but welcomes the support.

If he decides to run, he’ll need any exposure he can get. His biggest battle in trying to win the republican nomination will be his lack of Statewide name recognition.

A Nov. 13 Victory Insights poll shows Trump-endorsed South Florida congressman Byron Donalds favored by 45% of Republican voters.

Former House Speaker Paul Renner is at 2.7% and Collins is in a statistical tie with James Fishback, CEO of Azoria investment firm, at 1.2% and 1.1% respectively.

The winner of the Republican primary will be facing a growing field of Democratic candidates, which now includes former Florida congressman David Jolly and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.