Last Call for 1.12.26 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida

Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.

First Shot

After months of speculation, Jay Collins is officially in the race for Governor, launching his campaign with a Fox News exclusive that leaned heavily on biography, service, and continuity with the DeSantis era — even as the Governor himself declined to offer an endorsement.

“I’m running for Governor because leadership is forged under pressure, not in soundbites. I served over 23 years in the United States military, mainly as a Green Beret, where accountability is real, decisions have consequences, and service comes before self. That experience shaped how I lead and why I believe public office is a public trust,” Collins said.

Collins praised Gov. Ron DeSantis in his announcement, casting himself as a results-oriented conservative focused on law enforcement, public safety, and maintaining Florida’s national profile. DeSantis, however, struck a notably noncommittal tone when asked about Collins’ bid just minutes before the announcement.

“Jay’s a good guy. He served this country admirably as a Green Beret,” DeSantis said in Davie. “If I get involved in the Primary, you’ll know it. It’ll be at a time and place of my choosing.”

First elected to the Senate in 2022 after defeating Janet Cruz, Collins briefly flirted with a congressional run before switching to the state Senate with a field-clearing endorsement from DeSantis. Since becoming Lieutenant Governor, he has embraced a far more visible role than his predecessors, earning national media hits — and occasional controversy — along the way.

But visibility alone may not close the gap. Collins enters the race with roughly $900,000 in his political committee, Quiet Professionals FL, well behind Byron Donalds and Paul Renner, who have raised more than $35 million and $5.4 million, respectively.

Donalds, who entered the race with Donald Trump’s endorsement, remains the early front-runner in polling — a poll released last week showed Donalds would lead Collins 45%-6% if he were a candidate.

Evening Reads

—”Donald Trump is trying to change how the Midterm Elections are conducted” via Patrick Marley and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez of The Washington Post

—”Today is the day that Democrats’ chances of winning the Senate got real” via Chris Cillizza of So What

—”Fed changes course and takes on Trump’s political fight” via Colby Smith of The New York Times

—”Banana Republicanism” via Jonathan Chait of The Atlantic

—“Fifty people control the culture” via Ted Gioia of The Honest Broker

—“The speed-obsessed Texas wildcatter in pole position for Venezuela’s energy riches” via Benoît Morenne of The Wall Street Journal

—”Uber costs down after Florida tort reform” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics

—”Florida deregulated nursing schools. Scam colleges and failing students followed” via Annie Martin of the Orlando Sentinel

—“Nick DiCeglie brings thoroughbred decoupling effort to the Senate” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics

—”Kathryn and Brian Ballard’s latest FSU gift punctuates long history of giving back” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics 

Quote of the Day

“Jay’s a good guy. … If I get involved in the Primary, you’ll know it. It’ll be at a time and place of my choosing. And so we’ll see.”

— Gov. Ron DeSantis, minutes before Lt. Gov. Jay Collins announced his campaign for Governor.

Put it on the Tab

Look to your left, then look to your right. If you see one of these people at your happy hour haunt, flag down the bartender and put one of these on your tab. Recipes included, just in case the Cocktail Codex fell into the well.

Ron DeSantis says James Uthmeier is still reviewing potential charges against Nicolás Maduro. We’re still reviewing whether the Attorney General gets a Guarapita.

U.S. Rep. Randy Fine’s bill to annex Greenland and admit it to the union is a long shot, but he gets a 51st State for the effort.

It looks like St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch was served a Daylight Robbery by the person running his political committee.

Breakthrough Insights

Tune In

Lightning aiming for 10 straight wins, first place

The Tampa Bay Lightning can move into first place in the NHL’s Eastern Conference standings as they face the Flyers in Philadelphia tonight (7 p.m. ET, WXPX, ESPNT+).

Just over halfway through the season, the Lightning trail the Detroit Red Wings by a point in the standings. With a victory over the Flyers and a Red Wings loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, the Lightning would jump to the top of the standings.

Tampa Bay has won nine straight games, including a 7-2 victory on Saturday night in Philadelphia. Nikita Kuvherov scored a pair of goals in the win. He has recorded at least two points in all nine of the games in the current winning streak. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has won seven straight games in the streak.

The winning streak came after three straight losses by the Lightning and seven defeats in a nine-game stretch. 

After tonight’s game, the road trip continues. Tampa Bay visits Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Dallas before returning home for a Jan. 20 meeting with San Jose. The Lightning will enjoy a six-game homestand starting Jan. 26 that includes an outdoor game against the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1.

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Last Call is published by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson, with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.