Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback warned that anyone who threatens his campaign or harms his staff and volunteers would be met with lethal force, saying, “We will shoot you dead,” as he addressed supporters following an alleged arson attack at his home over the weekend.
Fishback, who is running for governor and recently returned to Madison, Florida, made the remarks at a rally held at his house. The comments came days after a fire was intentionally set on his property, an incident his campaign described as a targeted act of political violence.
On Sunday, an arsonist tried to burn down my home where our staff was working.
— James Fishback (@j_fishback) February 10, 2026
If anyone attacks our staff or volunteers, we will not wait for the police.
We will shoot you dead.pic.twitter.com/7Bc0gWs3RN
“If you threaten our campaign, if you lay hands on a single one of our volunteers, if you come back to this home and our staff, our volunteers are working hard, we’re not waiting for the police,” Fishback said. “We’re gonna shoot you with an AR-15, sight on scene, five, five, six. That’s what we’re going to do. It’s very simple. Shall not be infringed. We have a right to self-defense as this campaign. We will never compromise that right.”
According to a statement released, the incident occurred shortly after 5:50 p.m. on Sunday, when a fire was intentionally set in Fishback’s side yard and began spreading toward the home. Fishback and members of his staff were inside the residence at the time.
Official Statement on Sunday's Arson Attack Targeting James Fishback's Home
— Emma Wright (@emmawrightFL) February 8, 2026
James Fishback, candidate for Florida Governor, returned home to Madison, FL for the first time since launching his campaign for Governor ten weeks ago. Shortly after 5:50 p.m. on Sunday, a fire was…
“Someone just tried to set my house on fire,” Fishback said in reference to the incident.
Someone just tried to set my house on fire… pic.twitter.com/DGDQADvegd
— James Fishback (@j_fishback) February 8, 2026
The campaign credited Madison County Fire Rescue with responding quickly and containing the fire before it caused damage to the home. No injuries were reported.
The campaign said the incident marked the first time Fishback had returned home since launching his gubernatorial bid roughly ten weeks earlier. The statement described the fire as a deliberate act and called for a clear rejection of political violence.
“This act of arson should be unequivocally condemned,” the statement read. “Political violence of any kind is unacceptable and has no place in America.”
The fire and Fishback’s subsequent remarks come amid heightened national attention on the safety of political candidates, campaign workers, and volunteers, as campaigns increasingly operate in a polarized and tense political environment. Authorities have not publicly announced any arrests or identified a suspect in connection with the fire.
