The Republican primary for Florida governor took a sharp and ugly turn over the weekend after candidate James Fishback launched a racially charged attack against his GOP rival, Rep. Byron Donalds, drawing swift backlash and raising questions about Fishback’s conduct and judgment.
The controversy erupted on social media after a user posted side-by-side photos of Donalds with his wife and Fishback with a woman, captioning the post with a slang term meant to suggest one man “outclassed” the other. The term, often used online to compare physical appearance, was defined by Merriam-Webster as internet slang meaning “to outclass,” typically in reference to attractiveness.
Fishback seized on the post and responded with a quote-tweet that mocked the spelling of Donalds’ name and included a racially charged remark. “By’rone wants to turn Florida into a Section 8 ghetto,” Fishback wrote, a comment critics immediately condemned as a bigoted dogwhistle targeting Donalds, who is Black.
The attack came despite Donalds entering the race with strong backing from conservative leadership. President Donald Trump endorsed Donalds last February, before the congressman had formally launched his campaign. Trump praised Donalds as a “TOTAL WINNER,” highlighted his family, and said he would be a powerful ally in advancing an America First agenda as governor.
Fishback’s remarks also stand in contrast to his recent surge in conservative media attention. Tucker Carlson recently endorsed Fishback during a public conversation, which Carlson promoted on X by declaring that Fishback is the future of Republican politics. Fishback has made opposition to Israel a central theme of his campaign, a position that has already divided Republican voters.
Beyond the racially charged comment, Fishback is facing renewed scrutiny over serious allegations involving his former fiancée, Keniah Fort. According to reporting by Florida’s Voice, Fort alleged she joined Fishback’s organization in 2021 at age 16, while Fishback was 26, and that he initiated a romantic relationship with her while she was still a minor. Fort said Fishback instructed her to keep the relationship secret, a dynamic experts often associate with grooming.
Fort further alleged that the relationship escalated over time and that by spring 2023 the two were living together, during which she said she became financially dependent on Fishback due to irregular pay from her work in his organization. Court filings cited by Florida’s Voice described repeated conflicts, including claims that Fishback threw objects, screamed, grabbed Fort’s arm leaving visible marks, attempted to gaslight her, and threatened self-harm as a form of manipulation.
Fishback has denied the allegations and told Florida’s Voice that he was fully exonerated after review by Florida’s Second Judicial Circuit. He said the court conducted two lengthy hearings and cleared him of wrongdoing, adding that he has never been arrested or charged with a crime, unlike Donalds.
Donalds, meanwhile, continues to campaign with Trump’s endorsement and strong support among Republican voters. Trump previously emphasized Donalds’ family, record, and leadership qualities, saying Florida would benefit from his voice and close cooperation with the White House.
As the primary heats up, Fishback’s remarks and past controversies are likely to remain front and center, threatening to overshadow policy debates and inject racial and personal animus into a race that many Republicans hoped would focus on conservative governance and winning in November.
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