James Fishback, an investor and Gov. Ron DeSantis-aligned conservative, will announce a campaign for Florida governor in the coming days, setting up a direct clash with President Donald Trump’s chosen candidate: Rep. Byron Donalds.
“I’ve heard from Floridians across the state who are hungry for a leader who will build on Gov. DeSantis’ historic record and make it easier to buy a home, raise a family, and retire with dignity,” Fishback told POLITICO in a statement. “I’ve made my decision, and I will be making a formal announcement Monday.”
Fishback, 30, is the founder and CEO of the “free-thinking” investment firm Azoria, which manages public and private capital and focuses on investments in companies that do not prioritize diversity initiatives. The fast-talking, Spanish-speaking Davie, Florida, native is planning to run on a hardline immigration and affordability platform, including proposing that companies doing business in Florida be compelled to fire employees there under a H-1B visa in favor of Americans. He also wants to eliminate property taxes for Florida residents’ homestead properties. And, wants to hire a political hand from DeSantis-world to lead his campaign.
Donalds, meanwhile, has Trump’s support as he campaigns on a promise to make Florida a new financial capital. Donalds is otherwise largely running on a promise to continue the DeSantis agenda.
Donalds, a congressman from Naples launched his bid in February with Trump’s endorsement and has since raised $31.5 million.
So it’s perhaps no surprise that Fishback’s intention to upend that plan is already causing heartburn for Trump allies including GOP Rep. Randy Fine, Trump strategist Alex Bruesewitz and White House deputy chief of staff James Blair, all of whom have privately urged Fishback not to run, according to a person familiar with the matter, granted anonymity to discuss private conversations.
Bruesewitz called it “foolish” to run against Donalds. “Byron has the trust and support of President Trump, a massive war chest, and the entire MAGA movement lined up behind him,” he said in a statement.
Fine said Fishback will be “hearing a lot from me,” and vowed to “root out anti-Semitism” from the Republican party.
Blair did not immediately return a request for comment. The White House did not immediately return a request for comment.
Fishback, however, doesn’t seem to have gotten the message.
“Byron Donalds is a good man, but he has done nothing in 8 months to show that he can lead a state that my family has known for four generations,” said Fishback, who has recently ramped up his criticism of Donalds.
Fishback, who does not have significant personal wealth, will have to overcome Donalds’ early support, including backing from conservative influencers, numerous Republican members of the Florida Capitol Hill delegation and dozens of members of the state Legislature. Several top campaign operatives with ties to Trump hopped aboard his political operation as well, including pollster Tony Fabrizio, senior adviser Danielle Alvarez and chief strategist Ryan Smith, who was a business partner of Blair.
Fishback’s political rise has been unorthodox. A former hedge fund trader, Fishback has for much of the past nine months been an ally of the Trump White House, getting involved in Trump’s pressure campaign against Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and briefly mounting an insurgent campaign for the Federal Reserve board. He pitched Elon Musk on DOGE dividend checks, but after Trump’s falling out with Musk, Fishback launched a super PAC called FSD PAC, designed to blunt Musk’s political ambitions.
The other major GOP candidate in the race for governor is Paul Renner, a former state House speaker who helped shepherd much of DeSantis’ agenda through the Florida legislature before he launched a 2024 bid for president. Two others — Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and Florida first lady Casey DeSantis — are also weighing bids, though neither has made a formal move.
DeSantis, who remains one of Florida’s most influential political figures, has so far declined to endorse anyone in the race but has opposed the candidacies of both Donalds and Renner — even as his own political future remains murky.
The 2026 cycle will take place in a significantly redder Florida than recent elections. Once the nation’s largest swing-state, Florida has become far more Republican, with the GOP out-registering Democratic voters by 1.4 million people. Still, two major candidates have filed to run for office on the Democratic side, including former Rep. David Jolly, who switched to Democrat from no-party affiliation after his past as a Republican, and Jerry Demings, the mayor of Orange Countywho held a kickoff rally in Orlando Thursday.
