Race Analysis: Florida CFO Republican Primary

Florida Republicans will choose their party’s nominee for Chief Financial Officer in the Aug. 18 Primary Election, with incumbent Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia facing challenger Dr. Frank Collige.

Ingoglia was appointed as Florida’s Chief Financial Officer by Gov. Ron DeSantis in July 2025 following the resignation of former CFO Jimmy Patronis, and is now seeking election to a full term.

The winner of the Republican Primary will advance to the Nov. 3 General Election to face the Democratic nominee for Chief Financial Officer.

Republican (incumbent) Blaise Ingoglia

Ingoglia is seeking election as Florida’s CFO after having been appointed to the office by Gov. DeSantis in July 2025. The position became vacant when former CFO Jimmy Patronis resigned to run for Congress.

Ingoglia was serving as a state senator when he received the Governor’s appointment, having served as the representative of Florida Senate District 11 from 2022-2025. Prior to his election to the Senate, he served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2014-2022.  

A close political ally of Governor Ron DeSantis, Ingoglia served as chair of the Republican Party of Florida from 2015 to 2019. According to his campaign website, in that role he helped lead Republican campaign efforts in Florida, including those supporting Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis.

Born in New York City in 1970, Ingoglia moved to Florida in 1996 and established his America One Mortgage company and, later, his homebuilding business, Hartland Homes.

Before entering elected office, Ingoglia built a public profile through his "Government Gone Wild" YouTube channel. He launched the self-described watchdog series during the Great Recession with a stated intent to expose what he characterized as reckless government spending, high taxation, and political overreach. While supporters viewed the channel as promoting transparency and fiscal accountability, critics argued it functioned as a partisan platform that sometimes relied on sensational presentations of complex fiscal issues.

Ingoglia brought a similar emphasis on reducing government spending to his role as CFO. He partnered with the Governor’s Office to launch the Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative that targeted local municipalities and county government for fast-tracked audits and claimed to have identified billions in what the administration labeled "excessive" local spending.

Proponents of Florida’s DOGE have argued the program provides necessary oversight to protect taxpayers, while critics—including some Republican and Democratic local officials—have pushed back on some of the claims made by DOGE and Ingoglia. Some skeptics have suggested that the state’s DOGE audits are part of DeSantis’ broader effort to gain public support for a state property tax amendment that could reduce local autonomy and force local governments across the state to cut essential public services.

On his campaign website, the issues and priorities highlighted by Ingoglia’s platform include, lowering property taxes, tackling waste, fraud, and abuse, housing and property insurance affordability, “Don’t New York Our Florida,” “DEI: Deport every illegal,” longtime MAGA supporter, “One Person, One Vote, No Exceptions,” “Protecting Your Right to Protect Yourself,” “Standing with Our Heroes,” and “Protecting Natural Florida.”

Ingoglia has reported raising substantially more campaign contributions than any other candidate in the race, including his Republican primary opponent. As of the most recent reporting period, ending on July 3, his campaign had reported nearly $1.8 million in monetary contributions plus another $612,540 in in-kind contributions.

According to Florida Department of State Division of Elections records, two political committees—The Friends of Blaise Ingoglia and the Government Gone Wild PAC—have collectively raised more than $8.5 million in monetary contributions. These figures include all-time monetary contributions to the PACs since their formation.

By contrast, Ingoglia’s Republican challenger, Frank Collige, has reported less than $16,000 in collected campaign contributions as of the close of the July 3 reporting period.

Republican Frank Collige



Dr. Frank W. Collige was born in Michigan, but is a graduate of Zephyrhills High School in Pasco County. Following graduation, he enlisted with the United States Air Force, where he served from 1999 to 2010.

His career has included working as a chief executive officer, small business owner, and investigator. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the American Military University in 2008, a graduate degree from North Central University in 2014, and his Ph.D. from Walden University in 2024.

According to his campaign website, Collige founded and owns Property Pros Consulting, a public adjusting firm that has grown to operate in eight states and manages more than 1,000 insurance claims annually.

His campaign platform, as presented on his website, includes a focus on three “critical priorities” should he be elected to serve as CFO: financial transparency and accountability, insurance market stability and consumer protection, and disaster preparedness and financial resilience.

“Throughout my career, I’ve witnessed how financial mismanagement, unchecked fraud, and a lack of accountability can damage lives, businesses, and entire communities,” said Collige in a statement on his campaign website. “That’s why I’m running—to ensure that every taxpayer dollar is respected, every insurance claim is handled fairly, and every business in Florida has the opportunity to grow and succeed.”

The Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is an executive constitutional officer who heads the Department of Financial Services and serves as a member of the Florida Cabinet. The role was created in 1998 through a constitutional amendment that combined the offices of the comptroller, insurance commissioner, and state fire marshal.

The CFO's primary responsibilities include managing the state's finances, auditing payments, regulating the insurance industry, overseeing certain banking and financial functions, and serving as Florida's State Fire Marshal, including supervising arson investigations. As a Cabinet member, the CFO also helps shape broader state policy.

For more information on candidates, election dates, deadlines, or to register to vote, check your registration, or submit registration updates, visit:
votemanatee.gov.