The race for Florida’s executive mansion erupted into a political firefight Monday as Republican investor James Fishback officially filed to run for governor in 2026, immediately drawing a sharp rebuke from frontrunner Rep. Byron Donalds.
Fishback, a fourth-generation Floridian, kicked off his campaign with a populist economic message and a direct offensive against Donalds, signaling that the GOP primary will be a bruising contest.
Positioning himself as an “anti-establishment” outsider, Fishback framed his platform around what he calls the affordability crisis facing Florida families.
“I’m running for Florida Governor to make life more affordable for you and your family,” Fishback said in a statement released Monday. “Hardworking Floridians should be able to buy a home, raise a family, and retire with dignity.”
READ: Florida Rep. Byron Donalds Touts ‘WEIGH Act’ Amid Ongoing Road Safety, CDL Debate
His initial policy rollout includes several aggressive proposals aimed at protecting local resources and labor. Fishback is calling for a halt to the “replacement of American workers with H-1B foreigners,” arguing the visa program disadvantages recent college graduates. He also pledged to block investment giants like Blackstone and Airbnb from purchasing single-family neighborhoods, asserting that Florida homes should be reserved for families rather than “foreign speculators.”
Fishback also vowed to abolish property taxes for all homesteaded properties in the state. “In America, you don’t rent your home from the government; you own it free and clear,” he said.
The campaign launch also highlighted a growing rift within the party regarding infrastructure and technology. Fishback promised to block the construction of AI data centers, citing threats to the state’s water supply and potential hikes in electric bills. He used this issue to distinguish himself from Donalds, whom he accused of pushing for more data centers and supporting the H-1B visa programs Fishback opposes.
Fishback did not hold back, criticizing the Congressman’s stock trading activities while in office and arguing he is ill-equipped to succeed Governor Ron DeSantis.
The Donalds’ campaign wasted no time in firing back Monday, dismissing Fishback’s challenge and leveraging the President’s support to frame the primary as already decided.
“Byron Donalds will be Florida’s next governor because he is the proven conservative fighter endorsed by President Trump,” said Ryan Smith, Chief Strategist for the Byron Donalds for Governor Campaign. “Anyone running against him is an anti-Trump RINO and will get crushed in the Republican primary.”
READ: The Great Wealth Exodus: Billions Flee California And New York For The Free State Of Florida
Despite the swift dismissal from the Donalds’ camp, Fishback insists he is the true heir to the current administration’s agenda.
“Congressman Byron Donalds can’t be our next governor because he won’t fight for Florida,” Fishback said. He pledged to preserve DeSantis’s legacy by continuing the fight against DEI initiatives, “radical transgenderism,” and “Soros-backed prosecutors.”
Before entering the political fray, Fishback founded the investment firm Azoria and Incubate Debate, a no-cost high school debate league started in Miami in 2019. He previously made headlines for suing the Federal Reserve and filing a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting the executive authority of President Donald Trump.
Fishback said he intends to visit all 67 Florida counties in the coming months to “debate” directly with voters.
“Florida is our home. America is our birthright,” Fishback said, closing his announcement with a challenge to special interest groups. “And we will never let them steal it from us.”
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