Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback criticized Republican Party leaders in a post on his social media, calling them “feckless losers” and accusing them of failing to improve people’s lives.
Fishback shared an image of a quote attributed to himself that read: “The Republican establishment sucks. They’re a bunch of feckless losers. All they do is put out strongly worded letters, put out tweets, and whine on Fox News. They don’t actually do things that make lives easier for us.”
Fishback is running as a Republican and has positioned himself as a critic of both Democrats and members of his own party. He has shown he is willing to challenge other Republican candidates in the race for governor.
During an appearance on The Tara Palmeri Show, a political podcast hosted by ex-Politico journalist Tara Palmeri, Fishback said he would confront voters directly while criticizing Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, who is also seeking the Republican nomination for governor.
“I’m willing to show up and fight for voters,” Fishback said. “They deserve a governor that they can see, talk to, and guess what? Maybe even yell at, while Byron Donalds sits like a fat, lazy DEI hire in Washington, DC, going to his Fox News studio, complaining and railing about the Democrats when he hasn’t done anything in five years for the people of my state.”
WATCH: James Fishback calls @ByronDonalds a “fat, lazy, DEI hire” who hasn’t done anything for Florida pic.twitter.com/CrNARchjJ0
— NotSourced (@notsourced) February 11, 2026
Fishback’s campaign drew additional attention after what his team described as an arson attack near his home in Madison, Florida. His campaign manager, Emma Wright, said in a statement that a fire was intentionally set in Fishback’s side yard and began spreading toward the house where campaign staff were working.
“We are grateful to the Madison County Fire Rescue for their swift response and for containing the fire before it damaged his home,” Wright wrote. “This act of arson should be unequivocally condemned. Political violence of any kind is unacceptable and has no place in America.”
WATCH: NBC News Tallahassee Interviews James Fishback After Targeted Arson Attack on His Home
— NotSourced (@notsourced) February 10, 2026
"Our entire side yard was caught on fire…. just 10 feet from hitting the sunroom of the house. The entire house would have gone up in flames." pic.twitter.com/6333ZG1pUu
Fishback separately wrote that an arsonist tried to burn down his home while staff were present and warned that future attacks would be met with lethal force.
In a video recorded outside his home following the incident, Fishback told supporters that if anyone threatened his campaign or returned to his property, “we’re not waiting for the police. We’re gonna shoot you with an AR-15.”
Fishback added that he believed his campaign had a right to defend itself, saying, “We have a right to self-defense as this campaign. We will never compromise that right.”
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
It was not immediately clear whether any arrests had been made in connection with the fire, and local authorities have not publicly released details of an investigation. Madison County officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Fishback is seeking the Republican nomination for governor in a field that includes sitting and former officeholders. His campaign has cast him as an outsider willing to confront party leadership as well as Democratic officials.
