Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday named Republican state Sen. Jay Collins as the state’s 21st lieutenant governor, filling a post left vacant in February when Jeanette Nuñez became president of Florida International University. Announcing the choice at a news conference in Tampa, DeSantis said Collins is “the Chuck Norris of Florida politics” and praised him as a proven ally who can help “deliver more wins for the people of Florida.” Collins was sworn in shortly after the event. Collins, 47, served 23 years in the U.S. Army Special Forces, earning a Purple Heart and continuing to serve as a Green Beret after losing a leg in combat. Elected to the state Senate in 2022, he chairs the Transportation Committee and has backed legislation on concealed carry, land purchases by foreign adversaries and veterans’ benefits. He also assisted the state’s effort to evacuate Floridians from Israel during the recent Iran conflict. With DeSantis barred by term limits from seeking reelection in 2026, elevating Collins positions the decorated veteran as a leading contender to succeed him, setting up a potential primary clash with U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, who is backed by former President Donald Trump. DeSantis said he wanted a lieutenant governor capable of governing if needed, underscoring Collins’s executive potential as Florida’s political succession battle begins to take shape.