James Fishback launched his Republican campaign for Florida Governor on November 24, 2025, focusing on policies that resonate with everyday Floridians.
He wants to ban foreign nationals from buying homes, eliminate homestead property taxes, end H-1B visa abuse in state jobs, and keep big government out of Florida affairs.
The 31-year-old Miami-based CEO of Azoria Partners began his campaign with limited name recognition, no major endorsements, and $250,000 raised by December 2025, compared to Byron Donalds' $45 million in campaign funds.
Early polls reflected that gap. A Mason-Dixon survey of 400 likely Republican voters on January 15, 2026, showed Fishback at 3%, Donalds at 37%, Jay Collins at 7%, and Paul Renner at 4%, with 49% undecided.
A Victory Insights poll from November 13, 2025, had him at 1%, Donalds at 45%. But internal tracking and newer surveys tell a different story.
A February 4, 2026, breakdown by political analyst Andy Froemel showed Fishback at 23%, Donalds at 37%, a 20-point swing since November.
Fishback's favorability stands at 5% positive, 4% negative, with 81% unaware in Mason-Dixon numbers. Among those who know him, support climbs quickly. His events draw strong crowds. At the University of Central Florida on February 5, 2026, supporters mobbed him for selfies and asked questions on nuclear energy, transportation, and investments.
He positions himself as the real Florida-first choice, calling Donalds a "federal lawmaker immersed in DC" who brings Washington baggage.
Donalds holds a lead, especially when voters know about his Trump endorsement, jumping to 76% in some polls. Collins and Renner stay in single digits on the Republican side. Democrats David Jolly and Jerry Demings split the undecided field.
The Miami Herald criticized Fishback as a "serial exaggerator" over past claims about overseeing $100 million in assets, but his message cuts through. He runs as the outsider who fights for Floridians without the DC machine behind him.
His campaign emphasizes keeping Florida strong, safe, and free from overreach.
Fishback's momentum matters. He started with nothing and now challenges the frontrunner. It’s a true underdog story, and Fishback is coming up fast.
Conservative voters respond to a candidate who speaks directly to their concerns without the usual “political polish.” The great state of Florida deserves a Governor who puts America First in general, and Florida families at the top of his priorities, not just another DC insider. If this trend continues, the August 18, 2026, primary could go well for James Fishback.