# Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins Names Emergency Director Kevin Guthrie Running Mate
*Guthrie joins gubernatorial bid days before primary, citing disaster response experience amid lagging polls.*

- Medio: Civic Coast News (https://civiccoastnews.com)
- URL: https://civiccoastnews.com/noticia/florida-lt-gov-jay-collins-names-emergency-director-kevin-guthrie-running-mate
- Sección: Politica
- Autor: Civic Coast News Staff
- Publicado: 2026-08-18T07:12:19.943Z
- Actualizado: 2026-08-18T09:43:35.617Z
> Lt. Gov. Jay Collins selects Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie as VP pick days before GOP primary, highlighting disaster response credentials while trailing frontrunner Byron Donalds in polls.

## Las claves

- Jay Collins announces Kevin Guthrie as running mate for governor
- Announcement made one day before Florida Republican primary on Aug 18
- Guthrie oversees state emergency planning and recent hurricane responses

Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins announced Monday that State Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie will serve as his running mate in the upcoming gubernatorial race. The partnership was revealed just one day before the Florida Republican primary elections scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 18. This strategic move comes as polls indicate Collins is trailing behind frontrunner U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds.

### Timing and Political Context

The announcement’s timing drew attention due to its proximity to the primary vote and the rapid development of the partnership. Guthrie agreed to join the ticket only hours before a news conference at Crabby Bill’s restaurant in Palm Harbor. Notably, Collins stated that neither he nor Guthrie had alerted Gov. Ron DeSantis, who appointed Guthrie to his position in 2021.

Collins emphasized Guthrie's expertise during the announcement, stating, "You are the best at what you do... When people’s lives are on the line, that is the man that we all hope is in charge." The selection highlights Collins' effort to align his campaign with DeSantis, who remains revered by Florida’s Republican base despite not yet endorsing any candidate.

### Guthrie's Role and Potential Resignation

Kevin Guthrie oversees an agency responsible for planning responses to natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods, as well as man-made crises. Under his watch, the agency has spent $11.5 billion in disaster funding, including response efforts for Hurricanes Idalia, Helene, and Milton.

Guthrie acknowledged that balancing campaign duties with state responsibilities could be challenging. He stated he would consider resigning from his post if a crisis erupted during the campaign season. Guthrie expressed confidence that Deputy Executive Director Ben Fairbrother is "ready, willing and able to step into that position" should Guthrie leave office, according to [AP News](https://apnews.com).

### Immigration Oversight and Campaign Challenges

Guthrie’s tenure has also included overseeing immigrant detention centers in Florida, a role not mentioned in the initial campaign announcement. More than $567 million of state disaster dollars were spent on immigration-related efforts last year under his supervision.

Despite Guthrie's enthusiasm for the political venture, Collins faces significant polling deficits and criticism from rivals like former House Speaker Paul Renner, who noted that DeSantis has not endorsed him. The primary election will determine whether this late-stage partnership can influence voter sentiment before Aug. 18.
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Fuente original: https://civiccoastnews.com/noticia/florida-lt-gov-jay-collins-names-emergency-director-kevin-guthrie-running-mate