Florida Republican candidate James Collins: 'We cannot allow the American Dream to be based on surviving'

Republican candidate James Collins is challenging the notion that the "American Dream" in Florida should be reduced to mere survival. Ahead of the August 18 Republican primary for Florida governor, Collins articulated his vision to move beyond economic hardship and restore a more aspirational ideal for the state's residents.

Collins, currently the state's Lieutenant Governor, linked Florida's affordability crisis directly to the struggle for survival. "We can never allow the American Dream to be based on simply surviving," he stated in an interview with WUSF. "That is not something any of us desire or dream of." He believes restoring the American ideal requires generating more job opportunities that have been neglected over time, particularly in rural areas.

His campaign platform centers on an 11-step plan designed to make living in Florida affordable, ensure safety, and protect the state's distinctive lifestyle. Collins advocates for modernizing traditional industries like sawmills, which he believes have been overlooked, especially in more rural counties. "I believe we need to modernize some of the things we have inherited from agriculture, like sawmills. I believe we need to modernize and boost them, as we have lost a lot in our more rural counties," he explained.

With a background spanning over two decades in the U.S. Army Special Forces as a medic, Collins brings a unique perspective shaped by extensive combat deployments and personal injury. He retired after 23 years of service, having sustained chronic combat injuries that led to the amputation of his left leg. Collins, who entered politics in 2022, is running to maintain what he describes as Ron DeSantis's legacy, promising "no slogans. Just work."