In what might be the most desperate political stunt of 2026, Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback has downloaded Tinder—yes, the hook-up app—in a cringey attempt to "meet young female voters where they are."
Fishback, who's challenging the outstanding Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) in the 2026 GOP primary, announced Monday that he's now swiping right for votes instead of dates. The move has conservatives scratching their heads and asking: Is this really the kind of judgment we want in the governor's mansion?
"I've joined [Tinder] to meet young female voters where they are, and share my plan," Fishback declared, apparently oblivious to how inappropriate this sounds. Because nothing says "serious gubernatorial candidate" like sliding into young women's DMs on a dating app.
A Slap in the Face to Real Leadership
While Byron Donalds has been fighting the good fight in Congress—standing with President Trump, defending conservative values, and actually getting things done for Florida families—his challenger is busy crafting pick-up lines about policy positions.
This isn't just bad optics, Patriots. It's a fundamental misunderstanding of what conservative leadership looks like. Real leaders don't need gimmicky dating app strategies to connect with voters. They earn trust through consistent conservative action and principled stands.
Donalds has proven himself as one of Trump's most reliable allies in Congress, fighting against the Deep State, defending our Second Amendment rights, and standing up to the radical left's woke agenda. Meanwhile, his primary challenger thinks governance is a dating game.
"This is exactly the kind of shallow, attention-seeking behavior that turns voters off from politics altogether," one Florida GOP insider told reporters.
Florida deserves better than political stunts masquerading as outreach. With President Trump back in the White House and Republicans controlling government, we need serious conservative leaders who understand the gravity of their responsibilities—not wannabe politicians treating campaigns like speed dating.
The question Florida Republicans should be asking: Do we really want our next governor to be someone whose idea of voter outreach involves downloading hook-up apps?