Super PAC slams Chris Collins as a convict — and worse, a liberal

The first negative campaign ads in a heated Southwest Florida congressional race are taking former U.S. Rep. Chris Collins of New York to task.

“Convict Chris Collins is a New York Liberal” declares an ad from Southwest Florida First.

The ad both slams Collins for a conviction for insider trading and rails against him for having a voting record of a moderate while running to represent one of Florida’s most reliably conservative districts. He is part of a wide field of candidates running to succeed U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, a candidate for Governor.

“The New York liberal resigned after he got busted for insider trading and went to prison,” the 60-second version of the ad states. “Now, he’s here, along with a bunch of other carpetbaggers trying to buy our seat in Congress. Worse, Chris Collins claims he’s conservative.”

Collins was convicted in 2020 participating in a scheme to commit insider trading and for making false statements to federal law enforcement agents. While sentenced to 26 months in prison, President Donald Trump pardoned Collins just two months into serving his time.

The reference to “other carpetbaggers” suggests more ads may be coming that target other recent transplants to Southwest Florida running for the seat.

The ad then spotlights ratings from the conservative Club for Growth showing Collins had one of the most liberal records of congressional Republicans during his tenure in the House. Indeed, the organization targeted Collins in a Republican Primary in 2017.

“During Collins’ time in Congress, conservative watchdog group Club for Growth ranked him one of the most liberal Republicans in Washington,” the ad states. “How liberal? His last year in Congress, he ranked more liberal than radical leftist Ilhan Omar. That’s not a Southwest Florida conservative. That’s a New York liberal.”

The ads are running on Fox News Channel in Southwest Florida, as well as on Fox News Radio. The spots also are running on digital platforms, including X.

Southwest Florida First is a super PAC registered in May 2025 with a Venice address.

“We welcome people from all over the country who want to live here and fall in love with Southwest Florida. But this is a congressional seat for a conservative — not a landing spot for carpetbagging, career candidate liberals looking for a redemption act,” reads a release from the super PAC.