Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback announced a major proposal this week aimed at reforming the state’s divorce laws, saying he would make it so anyone who cheats on their spouse would lose full custody and all claims to marital assets.
As Governor, I will change the law so if anyone cheats on their wife/husband, they lose EVERYTHING.
— James Fishback (@j_fishback) February 20, 2026
I will not tolerate adultery.@ByronDonalds on the other hand won’t do anything about adultery except commit it. https://t.co/GY5kcHIovy
“I will change the law so if anyone cheats on their wife/husband, they lose EVERYTHING. I will not tolerate adultery. @ByronDonalds on the other hand won’t do anything about adultery except commit it,” Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback declared in a social media post, signaling a dramatic proposal to overhaul the state’s divorce laws.
Fishback, a Republican running in the 2026 GOP primary, told supporters during a campaign stop that he would support changing Florida law so that anyone found guilty of adultery would forfeit full custody of children and “full claims to any assets in that marriage.” “Divorce, it’s a tragedy. Look, if you’re in an abusive relationship, I will always support your right to exit that relationship. But if you cheat on your partner, I’m going to reform the divorce laws so you give up 100 percent of everything,” Fishback said. “No questions asked. If you are an adulterer in our state and then there is a divorce, you as the adulterer, you as the cheater, will lose full custody and will lose full claims to any assets in that marriage.”
The candidate framed his proposal as a moral imperative and a way to protect families, emphasizing the value of two-parent households. “I didn’t leave my homework at my mom’s house and then have to give that excuse to my teacher on Tuesday morning. Divorce is wrong. Adultery is a moral sin, and if you commit it, no, we’re not going to arrest you. But if you are a man and you cheat on your wife in Florida, get ready to lose everything. I will not tolerate that in our state,” he said.
Fishback is seeking the Republican nomination in a crowded field that includes Representative Byron Donalds, Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins, and former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner. Polls currently show Fishback trailing the front-runner Donalds, who has the endorsement of President Donald Trump, with an 81% chance of winning the primary compared to Fishback’s 11%. Trump carried Florida by about 13 points over former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, highlighting the state’s strong Republican lean heading into the election.
The Florida GOP primary is scheduled for August 18, 2026. Forecasters consider the state safe for the Republican nominee, with both Sabato’s Crystal Ball and the Cook Political Report classifying the race as likely to remain in GOP hands. Fishback’s campaign has drawn attention for its controversial proposals, including his call for a 50 percent “sin tax” on OnlyFans, as well as his latest stance on divorce law reform.
Yes. As Florida Governor, I will institute at 50% tax on all income derived from "Only Fans." https://t.co/ZlL1HdRTjz
— James Fishback (@j_fishback) January 12, 2026
Addressing the broader context of family stability, Fishback said, “I have seen people who have suffered through the stress, the pain, the affliction of divorce, and growing up in a two-parent household is a privilege.” He described the measure as a necessary step to protect marital and family integrity while distinguishing himself from Donalds, whose campaign he criticized directly in his post and at the event.
Despite trailing in the polls, Fishback continues to position himself as a candidate willing to advance bold, socially conservative policies. His stance on adultery and divorce law reform has already sparked national attention, even as analysts like Ben Galbraith, senior pollster at Victory Insights, suggest that “Donalds is rolling steadily towards the Governor’s Mansion, with no other candidates achieving statistically significant relevance… Fishback is occupying a somewhat fringe lane that primarily exists online. Unless something major changes, Donalds has a clear path to victory.”
Florida’s gubernatorial race is shaping up to be a key contest in the Republican primary calendar, not only because of the state’s electoral significance but also because of the attention being drawn to unconventional policy proposals like those offered by Fishback. How voters respond to his call to punish adultery by seizing assets and custody could become a defining moment in the primary campaign.
