2022 Election – State Senator District 14

Republican Jay Collins is running against incumbent Democrat Janet Cruz in this contest. This is a pretty easy one, but I gave Mr. Collins a chance.

I’ve noticed a trend this election cycle: candidates are putting some fuzzy bio information and a list of vague “issues,” and Collins’ website is one of the worst. He spends a lot of internet ink giving his life story about being a special forces operator and now running a non-profit that does “barbeques” in disaster areas. He’s also a “professional speaker.” Do not get me wrong, I honor the guy’s service, but that alone does not qualify him to be my State Senator.

It took several calls to get to him. He is as MAGA a conservative as they come. Absolutely no consideration for any gun restrictions, just a bunch of vague talk about it being all about mental health issues and “we need to address those.” Still, when asked, he didn’t offer any specifics about how he’d do that. He is one hundred percent behind school choice and couldn’t think of any restrictions on defunding public schools.

On top of all that, there was a bunch of weirdness in the lead-up to the election. He had first announced to run against Kathy Castor for U.S. House, then he switched districts and was going to run against Jackie Toledo (to his credit, he did refer to her as a career politician. I didn’t get to ask about all the switching and where he lives.

Janet Cruz has been a solid Democrat, which means there is little she can accomplish given the current state of affairs in Tallahassee. I asked how she and other Democrats could advance any agenda items, and she gave an exasperated sigh and said, “honestly, I don’t know.” She explained that, in the past, leaders from both parties in the legislature and the Governor would meet and confer on issues, but the current Governor doesn’t seem even to recognize that state government is supposed to be bicameral and Republicans are okay staying out of his way.

While that means there is little any Democrat can do, that is all the more reason not to send any more MAGA Republicans to the State Senate. I could consider, for tactical reasons, a moderate Republican, but Jay Collins is as rabidly conservative as they come.

Vote for Janet Cruz for State Senate.