TAMPA, Fla. - Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed State Sen. Jay Collins as the state’s lieutenant governor. The governor's announcement and Collins' swearing-in ceremony took place at a news conference in Tampa on Tuesday morning.

The state Republican Party disclosed the appointment of the Florida senator early Tuesday. Gov. Ron DeSantis made it official later in the day.

TAMPA – Noting that the Republican primary race for governor is still more than a year away, Gov. Ron DeSantis hesitated to say anything too definitive about the contest to succeed him on Wednesday. But he did acknowledge that new Lt.