After weeks of increased speculation, Azoria CEO James Fishback has officially launched his candidacy for Florida Governor. Vowing to succeed Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Fishback also directed verbal jabs at Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), suggesting that the Florida Congressman is unworthy of becoming Florida's next Governor.
Fishback, "a fourth-generation Floridian and anti-establishment political outsider," is the latest candidate to enter the race for Florida Governor. The Republican Primary includes Rep. Donalds and former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner (R-FL). Former Rep. David Jolly, who is now running as a Democrat, faces Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings in the Democratic Primary. As well, Scott Jewett is running as the Libertarian candidate.
"I'm running for Florida Governor, so I can make life more affordable for you and your family," Fishback announced in a video this week. His prerogative is to make it "easier to afford groceries, to buy a home, to raise a family, and when it's all said and done, to retire with dignity."
Fishback's platform includes "stopping the replacement of American workers with H-1B foreigners," addressing issues with Blackstone, Airbnb, and "foreign speculators" buying properties from Floridians, "blocking the construction of AI Data Centers that would threaten our water supply and raise our electric bills," and abolishing property taxes. "In America, you don't rent your home from the government, you own it free and clear," he said.
The gubernatorial candidate also criticized Rep. Donalds, the GOP frontrunner, warning that Rep. Donalds is not looking out for the best interest of Floridians.
"If a Republican politician supports the H-1B scam that fires our workers, he can't be our next Governor. If he goes out and supports the building of AI data centers that threaten our electric bills and our water supply, he can't be our next Governor. And if he goes to Congress and does nothing for us but makes millions of dollars trading stocks for himself, he can't be our next Governor," Fishback expressed. "Congressman Byron Donalds can't be our next Governor because he won't fight for Florida like Ron DeSantis has."
For months, Fishback has taken to social media to comment on the state of politics in Florida and the country, amping up his criticism of Rep. Donalds, whom he's dubbed "H1-Byron." Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins, another Republican that's expected to enter the crowded Republican Primary, has also directed verbal jabs at the GOP frontrunner.
Despite teasing his entrance in the race for months, Lieutenant Governor Collins has not yet formally announced his candidacy.
