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Florida GOP Candidate Joins Tinder to Court Voters
Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback says he joined Tinder to reach young female voters, a move that has drawn attention amid polling challenges and past controversies in the race.
James Fishback announcing his run for governor (Fishback2026.com)
Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback said Monday that he created a Tinder account as part of an unconventional effort to connect with young female voters ahead of the state’s GOP primary.
Fishback, 31, announced the move in a post on the social media platform X, writing that he joined the dating app “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 shared a screenshot of his Tinder profile, which listed his “hottest take” as support for Florida offering paid maternity leave to all mothers.
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About 30 minutes later, Fishback posted again on X saying he had “run out of likes” on the app and asked supporters to donate so he could subscribe to Tinder Plus, a paid service that provides unlimited likes and allows users to see who has liked their profile.
Fishback, an investor and hedge fund manager, is seeking the Republican nomination to succeed term-limited Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. According to a Patriot Polling survey conducted from Jan. 19 to Jan. 29, more than 22 percent of likely GOP primary voters said they were more likely to support Fishback, compared with more than 37 percent who favored Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), the race’s front-runner and a candidate endorsed by President Trump last year.
During the campaign, Fishback has drawn criticism for making racist remarks about Donalds. In a post on X last month, Fishback referred to the congressman as “By’rone” and accused him of wanting to “turn Florida into a Section 8 ghetto.”
Fishback has also faced scrutiny over past allegations reported by NBC News. The outlet reported in December that the Broward County School District severed ties with Fishback in 2022 following allegations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old student when he was 27. NBC News further reported that the woman sought a court order of protection against Fishback last year, though a judge ultimately ruled against her request.
Fishback has denied any wrongdoing, telling NBC News that the allegations “are completely false.”
Editor’s Note:
This article is based on reporting by The Hill and NBC News, as well as public statements and social media posts from the candidate, reflecting information available at the time of publication.
