FL Governor Candidate Banned From Tinder While Trying To 'Meet Young Female Voters'

Florida Republican gubernatorial hopeful James Fishback says he has been banned from Tinder after using the dating app to "meet young female voters where they are," calling the digital exile "election interference."

The 31-year-old investor from Madison shared the news on Wednesday via X. Fishback, who is founder of the Azoria investment firm, went on to label the banishment "disgraceful."

Fishback said he will now switch gears, transitioning his focus.

Fishback is vying to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is in his second and final term as leader of Florida. So is former U.S. Rep. David Jolly, a Democratic candidate from Dunedin, who has criticized Fishback.

Fishback faces U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins in the Aug. 18 primary for the GOP nomination, FOX Tampa reported.

Republican political consultant Terry Miller questioned the Tinder strategy. "You target the people with voting history … not random girls on Tinder," Miller told Gulf Coast News.

On the campaign trail, Fishback has vowed to bring to justice any Floridian whose name appears in the Epstein files, enhance school lunches and get rid of artificial intelligence data centers. He said he would also abolish property taxes.

Fishback has been in the spotlight before, denying allegations of an improper relationship with a student who was 17-years-old when he was age 27, NBC News reported in December 2025.

The student requested a protection order against Fishback, and he claimed she suffered from mental health issues, NBC News reported.

A judge ruled that Fishback, who said the accusations were false, did not harass the student, NBC News reported.

Fishback also generated headlines last month when he suggested imposing a 50 percent “sin tax” on OnlyFans incomes, The Hill reported. The tax would fund crisis-pregnancy centers and mental-health initiatives, and could raise $200 million, he suggested.

According to People, Fishback suggested that all OnlyFans creators in Florida should pay 50 percent to the state on all earnings procured through the online platform. Fishback said the purpose of the tax would be to “disincentivize and deter a behavior,” while calling OnlyFans an “online degeneracy platform.”