In the political arena of Florida, Republican Representative Byron Donalds faces a new contender in his quest to succeed Governor Ron DeSantis.
James Fishback, the founder and CEO of the investment firm Azoria, has officially announced his candidacy for the 2026 gubernatorial race. Fishback, a 30-year-old entrepreneur, has positioned himself as a staunch opponent of Donalds, asserting, "Congressman Byron Donalds can't be our next governor because he won't fight for Florida like Ron DeSantis has."
According to The Blaze, Fishback's campaign launch was marked by a video posted on X, where he outlined his ambitious agenda. He pledged to "stop the H-1B scam, tell Blackstone they can't buy our homes, cancel AI Data Centers, and abolish property taxes." Fishback's message is clear: he seeks to differentiate himself from other Republicans, stating, "Nowadays, not all Republicans are the same. If a Republican politician supports the H-1B scam that fires our workers, he can't be our next governor."
In his campaign video, Fishback emphasized his outsider status, declaring, "I'm not a politician. I'm an investor and a businessman." He also committed to visiting all 67 counties in Florida, underscoring the importance of accessibility and engagement with constituents. "Florida's next governor has to be someone you can see, talk to, and even debate with," he asserted.
Fishback's campaign website echoes a strong sense of state pride and national identity, proclaiming, "Florida is our home; America is our birthright; and we will never let them steal it from us." His profile on X highlights his focus on making Florida more affordable for families, a key issue for many voters.
In addition to his business endeavors, Fishback is the founder of Incubate Debate, an organization dedicated to fostering debate skills among middle and high school students and providing teachers with a free "Teacher Toolkit." Meanwhile, Donalds, who represents Florida's 19th district in the U.S. House, has garnered the endorsement of President Donald Trump and maintains a lead over Democrat David Jolly, a former Republican, in early polls.
The race for Florida's governorship is becoming increasingly competitive, with more than 30 candidates having already declared their intentions to run. As the campaign unfolds, voters will be closely watching how Fishback's outsider approach and policy proposals resonate with the electorate. Blaze News reached out to Fishback's campaign for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
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