James Fishback

James Thomas Fishback (born January 1, 1995) is a candidate seeking the Republican nomination for Governor of Florida, having announced his candidacy on November 24, 2025; he has never held elected or appointed public office. Before entering the race, he worked as a portfolio analyst at hedge fund Greenlight Capital from 2021 to 2023 and subsequently founded Azoria Partners, an investment management firm; two Azoria ETFs were later liquidated by the firm's independent trustees citing legal concerns, an action Fishback has characterized as politically motivated. He attended Georgetown University but did not complete a degree. He founded Incubate Debate, a nonprofit organization providing free debate leagues to Florida high schools, drawing on his own background as a national competitive debate champion who overcame a childhood stutter. As of early 2026, his campaign has raised approximately $19,000 and he is polling at approximately 4% in the Republican primary, having received an endorsement from Tucker Carlson in January 2026.

The Governor of Florida is the chief executive of state government, serving at the state level under the executive branch. Primary powers and responsibilities include signing or vetoing legislation, appointing cabinet members and judges, commanding the Florida National Guard, issuing executive orders, and overseeing management of the state budget.