Fishback previously worked for hedge fund Greenlight Capital until 2023, when he resigned ahead of an alleged planned termination for low productivity.[3] He founded Azoria Partners, an investment management firm that later launched an ETF before it was shut down by the company's independent trustees over legal concerns.[4] In the summer of 2025, Fishback made attempts to associate himself with President Donald Trump, wrongly claiming to have been an advisor at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and later launching an unsuccessful campaign to be nominated to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.[5] In November 2025, Fishback launched a campaign for the Republican nomination for Florida governor.
Fishback has been involved in various legal disputes. In 2022, the Broward County School District cut ties with him and a debate league he ran following allegations that he had a relationship with an underage girl. Fishback denied the allegations and threatened to sue the parents who made them, but later moved in with and got engaged to her after she turned 18.[6][7] In 2023, Fishback initiated a dispute with his former employer, Greenlight Capital, regarding his job title; the dispute culminated in Fishback's 2025 admission that he had illicitly shared and used confidential Greenlight information.[8] Fishback was ordered to pay back Greenlight's legal fees, but has been unable to do so,[9][10][11] leading to his car being repossessed,[12] and being ordered to give up other items.[13]
Early life
James Fishback was born on January 1, 1995, in Davie, Florida.[14][15] His mother is an immigrant from Colombia, and his father owned a landscaping business before becoming a bus driver. Fishback attributes the failure of his father's business to the arrival of Haitian migrants under temporary protected status following the 2010 earthquake.[16]
In 2019, Fishback founded Incubate Debate, a debate league that provides tournaments and training for middle and high school students.[22][23] Fishback stated that he formed Incubate Debate due to frustration with ideological biases held by National Speech and Debate Association judges.[18] Incubate Debate was acquired by the Bill of Rights Institute in 2024,[24] but control of the organization later reverted to Fishback, who stated that the acquisition was "dissolved".[7]
Fishback joined the hedge fund Greenlight Capital in 2021.[25] Fishback was employed by Greenlight Capital as a research analyst until 2023; Greenlight stated Fishback resigned ahead of a planned termination for low productivity.[3] Fishback claimed that he resigned after being subjected to anti-Christian discrimination.[9]
In 2023, Fishback founded Azoria Partners, an investment management firm focused on global macro strategies.[27] In June 2025, Azoria launched the Azoria500 MeritocracyETF, which tracks the S&P500 but excludes companies with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.[20][28][29] The MeritocracyETF, along with another ETF run by Fishback, was shut down in October by Azoria's independent trustees. The board stated that it made the decision after considering factors including "recent litigation involving a principal of" Azoria. Fishback alleged that the liquidations were motivated by anti-conservative bias.[30]
In February 2025, Fishback proposed the "DOGEDividend", a plan to return 20% of savings from the federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) directly to taxpayers.[31] He did a media tour where he claimed he worked for DOGE until the summer of 2025, but senior DOGE officials from before, during and after the period say Fishback never held any official or informal role with the group and that he was fabricating his association with them.[32] After Fishback claimed to have been a DOGE advisor in a post on the social media platform X, a spokesperson for DOGE head Elon Musk responded saying it was not true.[33]
In July 2025, Azoria unsuccessfully sued to make the Federal Open Market Committee's July29 meeting public. In August 2025, Fishback contacted President Donald Trump and several of his advisors in an attempt to secure the seat on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors vacated by Adriana Kugler. He visited the Federal Reserve's market symposium in Jackson Hole on August22, where he repeatedly yelled at member Lisa Cook. After a Florida-based social media account posted an unattributed claim on X that Fishback was being considered for the seat, speculation sparked online and on cable news networks that he was a serious contender. However, the Trump administration concluded that Fishback had fabricated the entire news cycle. Fishback was never considered for the role, and Trump instead named Stephen Miran to the position in September.[34][8]
Fishback is challenging frontrunner Byron Donalds, a U.S.representative endorsed by President Trump. In his announcement video, Fishback criticized Donalds' record in Congress, and later attacked Donalds for his ties to "corporate interests", calling him a "slave".[3][25][35] On January 12, he referred to Donalds as "By'rone" and accused him of wanting to "turn Florida into a Section 8 ghetto".[36] Fishback's comments were called racist by Democratic candidate David Jolly and the Tampa Bay Times.[37][38] Fishback later posted a video on social media platform X of himself shooting an assault rifle at a shooting range, with the caption, "Pull up, Byron Donalds. Let's see if you're really black".[39] When asked what this means, he replied "We do a little trolling." He has also stated "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".[40]
Fishback has been described as a strong supporter of Florida governorRon DeSantis, and has praised his "historical record" while in office.[41][42] On January 18, Fishback publicly split with DeSantis advisor Christina Pushaw, who had been informally advising his campaign.[why?][11]
During his campaign, Fishback defended supporters of far-right political commentator Nick Fuentes, saying, "I've found the audience of young men who follow and watch Nick Fuentes to be actually incredibly informed and insightful and very patriotic." These comments drew criticism from political opponents and advocacy groups.[43] Some commentators, including writers for The Nation,[44] have described Fishback as a "Groyper",[19][45][46] an association he has both disputed and embraced. Fuentes has expressed support for his candidacy but stopped short of endorsing him, saying it could hurt Fishback's bid for Governor.[19][47][48] On January 9, 2026, Fishback appeared on Tucker Carlson's podcast, where Carlson endorsed him.[49] The New York Times states that young conservatives in Florida are "fascinated" by Fishback.[50]
As of January14, 2026, the Fishback campaign reported that it had raised $19,000, significantly less than other contenders in the race.[51]
On March 11, 2026, Fishback announced that he had been banned from all Florida locations of Waffle House after attempting to tour all of the chain's locations in the state.[52]
Political views
Fishback's views have been characterized as America First, nativist,[53] and Christian nationalist.[54] His campaign has been described as provocative and deploying "rage bait" tactics to gain popular attention with a large online presence and appeal to young conservatives.[55][56] His views have been condemned as discriminatory by both Democratic and Republican opponents as well as other organizations during the 2026 gubernatorial campaign.[57][58][59][60] He has been described as the first "Groyper" political candidate and has refused to condemn far-right political commentator Nick Fuentes and his supporters.[61][53]
On January 30, after journalist Don Lemon was arrested for covering an anti-ICE protest inside a Saint Paul church, Fishback wrote that "Don Lemon is lucky he's not getting hanged in the public square for ransacking a church."[69]
Economics
Fishback has been characterized as an economic populist.[54] Fishback has emphasized affordability in his gubernatorial campaign, highlighting rising living costs in Florida and prioritizing housing affordability.[70] He has proposed increasing competition and confronting insurers. On homelessness, Fishback has proposed using state resources, including the Florida National Guard, to remove homeless encampments and relocate individuals into facilities where he says they would receive treatment and services.[71][72] Fishback supports eliminating property taxes on homestead properties.[73][71] Fishback supports banning investment firms, such as BlackRock, from purchasing single-family homes.[19] He additionally supports levying a $50,000 tax on out-of-state buyers trying to purchase a home in Florida.[74] Fishback stated that his focus on affordability has been inspired by the campaign of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, although he disagrees with Mamdani's proposed solutions to the affordability crisis.[43][19] He supports paid maternity leave.[74]
Education
Fishback supports raising the pay of public school teachers by 25%.[75] He supports requiring school uniforms in Florida's public schools, while providing families with a $250 per child stipend to purchase them.[74] Fishback hopes to end the presence of international students at Florida public universities by instituting $1million tuition fees for foreign students.[76]
Environment
Fishback opposes the construction of AI data centers in Florida, arguing they would increase energy costs.[77] He holds conservationist views on the environment, and has pledged to preserve more park space.[75] Fishback has stated that he supports further restoration of the Everglades, conserving state parks, and cleaning waterways.[78]
Fishback called for a public execution of the co-conspirators of Jeffrey Epstein.[86]
Legal issues
Sexual misconduct allegation
In 2022, the Broward County School District cut ties with Fishback and his organization, Incubate Debate, following allegations that he had an inappropriate romantic relationship with a 17-year-old girl employed by Incubate Debate. Fishback was 27 at the time. The allegations led to the resignation of an Incubate Debate board member. Fishback threatened the parents who made the allegation with legal action.[87]
Fishback and the girl moved in together in spring 2023, after she turned 18, and were briefly engaged in 2024 before publicly breaking up. Fishback has denied any inappropriate contact prior to the girl's reaching the age of consent, a denial which she disputes. A judge rejected her January 2025 request for a restraining order against Fishback for alleged harassment after the relationship's end, due to a lack of evidence. Fishback has denied wrongdoing and stated that he has never been arrested, charged with, or convicted of a crime.[88][7][89]
Job title dispute
In October 2023, Fishback sued Greenlight Capital over a dispute regarding his job title.[90] In his lawsuit, he claimed to have held a senior macro role, specifically as "head of macro".[42] Greenlight Capital denied these claims, stating that the position of "head of macro" never existed.[91][3]
In June 2024, Greenlight Capital countersued Fishback, alleging misrepresentation of his role, breach of his employment agreement, and defamation.[3] Greenlight also sought the return of two promissory notes which it had extended to Fishback, which it alleged Fishback had kept after his resignation.[92] In September 2025, Fishback admitted to sharing confidential Greenlight positions and strategies via his personal email and operating an undisclosed trading account, violating his employment agreement. As part of the settlement, he agreed to delete or return all Greenlight materials in his possession and pay the firm's legal expenses.[8] Fishback claimed to be unable to pay back Greenlight's legal expenses, and, as a result, had his Tesla Model Yrepossessed in September 2025.[12]
In January 2026, a federal magistrate judge ordered Fishback to surrender Azoria stock and a group of luxury items he purchased through an undisclosed bank account to US Marshals for sale to Greenlight.[13]
In March 2026, Fishback's lawyer in the promissory note case withdrew from his defense, citing Fishback's nonpayment of legal fees.[92][93]
On February 8, 2026, Fishback said that a fire in the front yard of his Madison County home had been intentionally set and described the incident as "political violence". He said the fire came within approximately 10 feet of his house.[97] The fire was quickly contained by Madison County Fire Rescue and did not damage the house.[97]
According to WFLA News Channel 8, as of February 9 local law enforcement had not launched an arson investigation.[98] Officials from the Madison County Sheriff's Office and Madison County Fire Rescue stated there was no active criminal probe and did not classify the fire as arson.[98]
References
↑"Trustees Vote to Shutter Two ETFs From Startup Manager Azoria Capital." Reuters, 16 Oct. 2025, www.reuters.com/markets/wealth/trustees-vote-shutter-two-etfs-startup-manager-azoria-capital-2025-10-16/.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
