Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins is calling on the Republican Party to adopt a warrior's mentality and learn from recent midterm election setbacks, urging the party to "get up and fight."
Collins, who Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has nicknamed the "Chuck Norris of Florida politics," told Fox News Digital that while the midterms represented a significant blow, the GOP has the capacity to recover by focusing on core conservative values and emulating Florida's political trajectory. "Hard times happen. Warriors, leaders get up and fight. That's what we have to do now," Collins said.
He pointed to Florida's shift from a swing state to a dominant Republican stronghold as a blueprint for national success. "Florida's been the road map," he stated. "I think we've been what I call the conservative proving grounds. I think that it's time for many here in Florida to use our voice and to be out there and help our party get back on their feet. Be resilient."
Collins, a former Green Beret who underwent self-surgery on an injured arm during combat, drew parallels between his military experience and the party's current challenge. He emphasized the importance of learning from weaknesses and moving forward with determination.
"As a party, we need to go back to being the party that welcomes folks in – a little bit more of a big tent – but we have to stand on our conservative values," Collins explained. He recalled his own state Senate race victory in a competitive Tampa district, attributing his success to engaging with voters who were not registered Republicans or were