Florida’s 2026 governor’s race is already shaping up to be a high-stakes showdown within the Republican Party.
According to The Associated Press, on Monday, James Fishback, a 30-year-old investor from the state’s rural Panhandle, formally announced his bid to succeed Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is barred from seeking another term.
Fishback immediately set his sights on Rep. Byron Donalds, the Trump-endorsed frontrunner in the contest.
In an announcement video, Fishback criticized Donalds’ congressional record and echoed messaging popularized by DeSantis, who has had a fraught relationship with Trump after challenging him for the 2024 presidential nomination.
“Florida is our home, America is our birthright, and we will never let them steal it from us,” Fishback declared, signaling a campaign focused on immigration, taxes, and conservative culture issues.
Following DeSantis’ blueprint, Fishback has pledged to eliminate property taxes and criticized H-1B visas, which allow companies to hire foreign workers for specialized jobs.
Fishback also addressed issues of historical memory and identity, stating, “I’m a proud American who will never apologize for our history,” while highlighting a Confederate monument in Jackson County, Florida.
His remarks appear aimed at energizing conservative voters concerned with race, immigration, and culture—key elements of the GOP base in Florida’s Panhandle.
Donalds’ campaign dismissed Fishback’s challenge, leaning on the former president’s backing. “Byron Donalds will be Florida’s next governor because he is the proven conservative fighter endorsed by President Trump,” said Ryan Smith, Donalds’ chief strategist. “Anyone running against him is an anti-Trump RINO and will get crushed in the Republican primary.”
Fishback’s entry adds a new dynamic to the race, which has already been framed as a proxy battle between Trump loyalists and those seeking to continue DeSantis’ political legacy.
As the primary approaches, Florida Republicans will face a choice between the sitting president’s preferred candidate and a rising challenger from the state’s rural north, setting the stage for a bitter, highly scrutinized fight.
With the race still in its early stages, both campaigns are likely to sharpen their messaging on taxes, immigration, and cultural issues, while observers watch closely to see whether Trump’s influence can dominate the Florida GOP or if challengers like Fishback can carve out their own path.
