Hernando firefighters back Jay Collins in Florida governor race

Hernando County Professional Firefighters backed Jay Collins. Jason Haas, the union’s president and a Hernando County Fire Rescue career firefighter and paramedic of more than 17 years, said Collins’ Green Beret background shows he understands “service, sacrifice and accountability.”

IAFF Local 3760, the Spring Hill-based union, has protected Hernando County since 1997 and represents more than 275 members. The group advocates for fair wages, strong benefits, safe working conditions and community service.

Collins also picked up the backing of Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells, who has led the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office since Jan. 3, 2017 and is serving his third term. Before becoming sheriff, Wells led the Palmetto Police Department from 2010 to 2015 and spent 21 years with the Florida Highway Patrol. Wells said that under Ron DeSantis and Collins, Florida has become a national leader in law enforcement and argued that crime is down and quality of life is up because leaders like Collins have kept Florida a law-and-order state.

The Wells endorsement was Collins’ ninth from a Florida sheriff. Collins said Florida has made “incredible progress” and said he has fought with DeSantis to make Florida “the conservative proving ground of America.”

Collins has been campaigning with a “Come and Take It” gun-rights tour. On the tour, Collins said he would seek to repeal Florida’s red-flag laws, lift the bump-stock ban and lower the firearm purchase age to 18-to-20-year-olds. He faces Rep. Byron Donalds, former House Speaker Paul Renner and investor James Fishback in the Aug. 18, 2026 Republican primary.

A ballot measure on the November ballot would raise Florida’s homestead exemption to $250,000 from $50,000 over two years if approved by 60% of voters.