Kevin Guthrie Resigns FDEM Post to Join Jay Collins Ticket

Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie resigned on Tuesday after joining Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins' gubernatorial campaign as a running mate. Collins announced the partnership on Monday evening, immediately preceding the Tuesday primary election. The political alignment lasted approximately 24 hours before the race was called in favor of U.S. Representative Byron Donalds.

Governor Ron DeSantis accepted the resignation, stating that politics and emergency management should remain separate to ensure the state's responsiveness during hurricane season. While DeSantis noted that Guthrie performed a "great job," he emphasized the need to avoid overlap between political campaigns and disaster response.

To fill the vacancy, DeSantis appointed Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue to lead the Division of Emergency Management. Perdue will serve as the interim executive director while retaining his existing role as transportation secretary.