You may want to be sitting down for this shocking news, but a Republican candidate is facing disturbing allegations involving a minor. It’s weird how these kinds of stories involving Republicans seem to keep emerging.
Anyway, Florida Republican Governor candidate James Fishback – credited with coming up with “DOGE dividends” – is facing allegations about an abusive relationship that began when his partner was a high schooler.
The Petitioner, Keniah Fort, filed an Injunction for Protection Against Stalking against Fishback earlier this year, detailing what sounds like an inappropriate and abusive relationship.
Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback is facing allegations from a former partner regarding a relationship that began when she was a minor, according to documents filed in a 2025 Leon County court case.
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) December 5, 2025
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According to Fort’s story, she joined Fishback’s organization in 2021 as a 16-year-old high school sophomore. In the Spring of 2022, the 26-year-old put the moves on her while “explicitly” telling her that she must keep their relationship a secret:
“Respondent explicitly directed Petitioner to maintain the secrecy of their relationship, demonstrating his awareness of pursuing a romantic relationship with a minor under his professional supervision and instruction.”
Florida law makes it a second-degree felony for a person aged 24 or older to engage in sexual activity with 16 and 17-year-olds – though it’s unclear from the documents exactly what their “secret” relationship entailed.
As per the petition, it eventually spiraled into “frequent conflicts”:
“On multiple occasions, Respondent would throw objects across the room and scream at Petitioner. This conduct created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. On one particular occasion, Respondent grabbed Petitioner by the arm, leaving visible marks. When confronted about his aggressive behavior, Respondent laughed without remorse and attempted to justify his behavior by stating Petitioner exaggerated her injuries.”
The petition goes on to outline disturbing acts of self-harm from Fishback, pulling his hair and slapping his face while telling Fort she was the reason he was doing this. There were also claims of financial control, with Fort alleging he threatened to cut off the utilities in their home.
He says he did nothing wrong
The pair broke up in September 2024, with Fishback subsequently sending “hundreds of messages” to her over multiple days after she asked him to leave her alone, which resulted in Fort’s petition against stalking. The court denied her request for protection, with a judge ruling that while Fishback appeared to have been “a little obsessive-compulsive,” his behavior didn’t break the law.
Fishback addressed the story in a terse statement to Florida Voice, saying:
“False accusations are sadly all too common today. The court in Florida’s Second Judicial Circuit reviewed these egregious accusations, conducted two lengthy hearings, and fully exonerated me. I have never been arrested or charged with any crime unlike my opponent Byron Donalds.”
Fishback hasn’t commented on the allegations that he romantically pursued a high-schooler working for him and pressured her to keep their relationship a secret. He continues to seek the Republican nomination for Florida governor in the 2026 race, so expect his opponents to make hay from this story.
But, let’s face it, if Donald Trump can get away with being wrapped up in Jeffrey Epstein’s business, maybe grooming a teen girl is par for the course for the GOP.
