The race for Florida’s executive mansion heated up Monday as Republican investor James Fishback officially filed paperwork to run for governor in 2026. A fourth-generation Floridian, Fishback kicked off his campaign with a populist economic message and a direct offensive against primary opponent Rep. Byron Donalds, signaling a bruising GOP primary ahead.
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.”
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.”
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In perhaps his most radical economic proposal, Fishback 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 Rep. Byron Donalds, whom he accused of pushing for more data centers and supporting the H-1B visa programs Fishback opposes.
Fishback’s announcement video did not hold back on Donalds, criticizing the Congressman’s stock trading activities while in office and arguing he is ill-equipped to succeed Governor Ron DeSantis.
“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.” He also tied his platform to national border security issues, referencing the “millions of illegals who invaded our country on Kamala Harris’ watch.”
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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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