Modern campaigning typically involves town halls, television advertisements, and door-knocking campaigns.
According to Fox News, the race for Florida’s governor’s mansion has taken a distinct turn toward the digital dating scene.
James Fishback is trying a novel strategy to get his message across to a specific demographic.
The 31-year-old investment firm CEO decided that the best way to reach young women wasn’t necessarily through a podium, but through their smartphones.
On Monday, he utilized social media platform X to reveal his unorthodox method of canvassing the electorate.
He explained the logic behind the move, noting that he wanted to enter spaces where voters already spend their time.
“I’ve joined @Tinder to meet young female voters where they are, and share my plan to make it easier for them to get married, buy a home, and raise a family,” he wrote.
To prove the account was active, he shared a screenshot of his profile. The bio featured a specific prompt asking for his “hottest take.” Fishback used the space to push policy rather than personality.
His profile read: “My hottest take is … Florida should offer paid maternity leave to all moms.”
However, the candidate’s digital ground game hit a snag rather quickly. The free version of the dating app has limitations regarding how many profiles a user can engage with.
Less than an hour after his initial announcement, Fishback returned to X with a funding request regarding the app’s premium features.
“i ran out of likes. could someone donate so i can get tinder plus?” he asked.
Fishback is vying for a high-stakes seat. He hopes to succeed current Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who is term-limited.
It is not an empty field, as he joins a crowded primary. Fishback is going up against established names, including U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins.
While Fishback is using one app to court women with promises of home ownership and maternity leave, he is targeting another app often used by young women for income.
He has previously stated that if he wins the election, he plans to implement a significant “sin tax” on creators who use OnlyFans.
He elaborated on this stance in a statement to Fox News Digital last month, contrasting past generational ambitions with current digital trends.
“Young women once aspired to be devoted mothers, doctors, lawyers, and nurses,” he said.
He framed the platform as a moral issue for the state.
Fishback continued: “Today, young women are told by an online platform called OnlyFans that it’s morally right to sell nude photos of themselves to strangers on the internet. I will not tolerate this cultural degeneracy as Florida’s next Republican Governor.”
