Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback told a Black voter “You should be lynched!” during a heated confrontation captured in a viral video posted Thursday. The exchange occurred when the voter questioned Fishback about allegations of inappropriate behavior with teenagers. Fishback is one of several Republicans running to replace Gov. Ron DeSantis in Florida’s gubernatorial race.
The confrontation began when the Black voter approached Fishback in a crowd, asking “So, Mr. Fishback, what’s with you smashing a 16 or 17-year-old? Can you answer about what’s going on with that?” The question referenced allegations made by Keniah Fort, a former employee of Fishback’s nonprofit organization Incubate Debate. Fort has accused Fishback of dating her when she was 17 and he was 27, further alleging that he stalked her after their relationship ended.
As the exchange escalated, the voter pressed Fishback about the allegations, saying “She said it in court, before you ran for office!” When Fishback defended himself by asking why he hadn’t been arrested, the voter responded with graphic speculation about intimate details. Fishback then said “I don’t want you ever speaking about women in our state like that ever again.” The voter shot back, “I mean, I don’t want you ever smashing girls, teenage girls, in our state ever again.”
The confrontation reached its peak when Fishback repeatedly asked “Why haven’t I been arrested?” before shouting “You should be lynched!” at the Black voter. The video, posted by an account describing itself as a “normal Republican,” abruptly ended after Fishback’s inflammatory comment. Fishback has denied all allegations made by Fort, stating that a judge dismissed the claims.
Fishback trails significantly behind Rep. Byron Donalds in Republican primary polls for the Florida governor’s race. Donalds, one of a handful of Black Republicans in Congress and a Trump ally, currently enjoys a substantial lead over Fishback and other Republican candidates. Fishback has previously made racially charged attacks against Donalds, referring to him as “By’rone” and claiming Donalds would “turn Florida into a Section 8 ghetto.”
The gubernatorial candidate has built his political brand around what critics describe as “trollish racism and antisemitism” that appeals to young conservatives. Fishback founded what he calls “anti-woke” organizations, including a high school debate league and an exchange-traded fund launched at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago. He has defended controversial groups like the University of Florida College Republicans, which was disbanded after a member was photographed making a Nazi salute.
Fishback’s campaign has faced multiple controversies beyond the lynching comment and misconduct allegations. Last month, his campaign was banned from every Waffle House location in Florida. He has also made threatening statements about shooting anyone who poses a threat to his campaign workers and posted inflammatory comments about journalists, including suggesting CNN’s Don Lemon should be “hanged in the public square.”
Despite attracting crowds of younger Republicans to his rallies, Fishback’s provocative approach has failed to significantly impact the GOP gubernatorial race. His comments have gained attention within what observers call the “groyper” community of young white supremacists, though Fishback claims he is not part of this movement. The viral lynching comment represents an escalation in his pattern of racist rhetoric during the campaign.
The Republican primary for Florida governor will determine who faces the Democratic nominee in the general election to succeed DeSantis. With Donalds maintaining his polling lead and Trump’s endorsement, Fishback’s controversial tactics appear unlikely to close the gap before the primary election.