With President Donald Trump’s endorsement secured, Rep. Byron Donalds entered Florida’s 2026 governor’s race because the clear front-runner. That benefit, nevertheless, has already drawn a jarring response from a little-known Republican challenger who seems decided to impress outrage relatively than make a case.
James Fishback, who entered the race in late November is making an attempt his hardest to go decrease than Trump by calling Donalds a “slave” to lobbyists and company pursuits — which might metaphorically describe the vast majority of American politicians — however not a phrase usually utilized by politicians contemplating it is vitally dehumanizing. Particularly towards Black politicians contemplating the ugly historical past of enslaved individuals on this nation.
However Fishback has doubled and tripled down on his slur by claiming Donalds shouldn’t be insulted since his ancestors have been by no means enslaved in the US.
Fishback, 30, who was born in South Florida to a Colombian mom, first known as Donalds, 47, a slave in November 2025 in a press convention whereas asserting his candidacy for governor, in accordance with Florida Phoenix.
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“Bryon Donalds is a slave. He’s a slave to his donors. He’s a slave to the company pursuits, to the tech bros that need to run our state into, in his personal phrases, a monetary capital,” he stated on the time.
He then doubled down on his remarks in a YouTube video interview with the Freedman Descendants Advocacy Group, a Florida nonprofit targeted on supporting descendants of American slavery.
His feedback are posted beneath:
“Byron Donalds is a tether. He’s not an American descendant of slaves. So when he cries like he has during the last couple of weeks as a result of I name him a slave to the (American Israeli Public Affairs Committee), a slave to company pursuits, a slave to the pro-immigration foyer that has damage each race of People however has additionally damage Black People who disproportionately work in meals, hospitality, leisure, and customer support.”
Fishback, who dropped out of Georgetown College to pursue a profession in finance, apparently by no means excelled in historical past.
“The entire these nations have slaves. Does he suppose slavery is just a US factor?” acknowledged a white Donalds supporter on X who goes by The Political Demon in response to an article about Fishback’s feedback.
‘Fallacious and Disrespectful’
Fishback then tripled down on his feedback on X.
“Byron Donalds is a SLAVE who was auctioned off for $31 million. He solely desires to please his company masters. I’m working for Governor to make Florida extra inexpensive for working households, college students, and seniors,” he tweeted.
However that additionally didn’t finish properly.
“A SLAVE?! We get what you’re TRYNA say James however this ain’t the way in which to say it,” tweeted a Black Trump supporter.
One other commenter who doesn’t assist Donalds nonetheless got here to his protection, “I despise Byron Donalds with each fiber of my being…however to name a Black man a slave; regardless of the contexts is distasteful and pertains to greater than the person focused.”
“I’d LOVE to look at you say that to his face. Once you have been in a position to converse once more you’ll possible be apologizing,” one other mocked.
“That is mistaken and disrespectful to many on so many ranges.”
Even his white supporters have been calling him out.
“James I’m a fan, however this isn’t good. Who precisely are his ‘company masters?’ What insurance policies of his do you disagree with? Calling a Black man a slave is past poor style my buddy,” posted a commenter named Matthew Johnson.
“Don’t love Byron however I’d vote for him 10000x earlier than this man,” promised Nick Taylor.
Whereas most commenters on social media criticized Fishback, together with those that don’t assist Donalds, some commenters seen the division amongst Republicans relating to minority candidates.
“You’re good for Florida. You’ve additionally put Donalds in a bind. Does he denounce the racism of the Republican get together, or does he let it slide? Ha. They’re not gonna vote for him anyway. Both method.”
“Personally suppose it’s humorous how cucked Byron Donald’s is gonna be to the Republican base that he can’t name this racism,” acknowledged one other commenter on X.
Donalds who’s polling between 38 to 45 % of voters has refused to reply to the slur, telling journalists to deal with ballot numbers and Trump’s endorsement. Fishback’s ballot numbers present he has lower than 2 % of assist from voters presently.
However he continues to make outlandish feedback within the hopes of stealing Trump votes from Donalds by vowing to unleash the Nationwide Guard to scrub the streets of homeless individuals by putting them in psychological asylums.
“That is precisely why I’ll deploying the FLORIDA NATIONAL GUARD on Day 1 as Governor,” he tweeted. “They should be faraway from our streets and given the psychological care they desperately want.”
However he has not addressed the truth that Florida’s lack of inexpensive housing together with low wages is the principle contributor to homelessness in Florida, in accordance with the Nationwide Alliance to Finish Homelessness.
Additionally, Florida ranks forty third within the county in psychological well being care with a patient-to-provider ratio which might makes his plan an authoritarian failure.
