Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback returned to UCF for the second time this semester on Thursday at the College of Sciences.
Hosted by UCF’s College Republicans, Fishback gave a nearly 90-minute-long campaign speech about what he plans to do as governor, centering on how he plans to put Floridians first. Key promises made by Fishback during his speech include addressing affordability issues, ending H1-B visas and divesting funds from Israel.
Fishback remains a controversial figure in Florida politics. Although he claimed to look out for Floridians of all backgrounds during his speech, Fishback has made racist statements toward Black Americans and used anti-Semitic language throughout his campaign. This comes as Fishback also promised to end DEI initiatives in the state while speaking to the UCF community.
Fishback has also been involved in multiple lawsuits. This includes a relationship between Fishback and a 17-year-old, who worked for his debate program, Incubate Debate. Additionally, Fishback’s former employer, Greenlight Capital, has brought suit against Fishback on multiple grounds.
Although Fishback is popular among young conservative voters ages 18 to 32, he received 4% of the vote, according to a poll by Emerson College. U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is currently projected to win the race with 46% of the votes, despite Fishback’s saying Thursday night he is “firmly in second place.”
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Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback told the UCF community on Thursday that he wants to implement “Florida First” policies, including divesting from Israel. This would allow Floridians to “live out the full arc of the American dream right here,” Fishback said.
Students lined up an hour early to see Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback, eager to hear what he had to say before the summer primary election. Fishback was scheduled to speak at UCF’s College of Sciences at 5 p.m. on Thursday.
Audience members listen to gubernatorial candidate James Fishback at UCF on Thursday night. Most of Fishback’s supporters are young men between the ages of 18 and 32; however, people of all ages were in the audience.
Aaron Baker, running for a seat in Florida’s House of Representatives and a supporter of gubernatorial candidate James Fishback’s campaign, was an audience member during Fishback’s speech at UCF on Thursday night. “As long as he’s somewhere in the region, and we don’t have something conflicting, then we’ll be here,” Baker said.
Audience members applauded gubernatorial candidate James Fishback multiple times during his nearly 90-minute speech at UCF on Thursday. Popular topics included his promises to end DEI initiatives in the state, close down abortion clinics, and further investigate the Epstein files.
During his speech at UCF on Thursday, James Fishback stressed some of his already well-known campaign promises to the UCF student body, many of which are supported by young, conservative voters.
Police officers escorted gubernatorial candidate James Fishback after his speech at UCF on Thursday. There was a heavy security presence on campus, with UCF police officers and Orange County sheriff deputies scattered throughout the College of Sciences, and Fishback’s own security detail staying close to him throughout the event.
Supporters came up to gubernatorial candidate James Fishback to personally discuss various topics after his speech at UCF on Thursday. Throughout the speech and in his conversations with students, he told the audience to think of the governor’s race, not as an election, but as a hiring process.
During his visit to UCF on Thursday, gubernatorial candidate James Fishback greeted supporters and took photos with them. Fishback promised students that as governor, he would help them land jobs and buy houses, so they could afford to get married and have children.
After his speech at UCF on Thursday, gubernatorial candidate James Fishback greeted supporters as he made his way to the back of the room. One way he connected with younger attendees was by using rhetoric they are familiar with, such as 6-7 jokes, “that’s cap,” and “just trust me, bro,” drawing a few laughs from the audience.
Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback told the UCF community on Thursday that he wants to implement “Florida First” policies, including divesting from Israel. This would allow Floridians to “live out the full arc of the American dream right here,” Fishback said.
Students lined up an hour early to see Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback, eager to hear what he had to say before the summer primary election. Fishback was scheduled to speak at UCF’s College of Sciences at 5 p.m. on Thursday.
Audience members listen to gubernatorial candidate James Fishback at UCF on Thursday night. Most of Fishback’s supporters are young men between the ages of 18 and 32; however, people of all ages were in the audience.
Aaron Baker, running for a seat in Florida’s House of Representatives and a supporter of gubernatorial candidate James Fishback’s campaign, was an audience member during Fishback’s speech at UCF on Thursday night. “As long as he’s somewhere in the region, and we don’t have something conflicting, then we’ll be here,” Baker said.
Audience members applauded gubernatorial candidate James Fishback multiple times during his nearly 90-minute speech at UCF on Thursday. Popular topics included his promises to end DEI initiatives in the state, close down abortion clinics, and further investigate the Epstein files.
During his speech at UCF on Thursday, James Fishback stressed some of his already well-known campaign promises to the UCF student body, many of which are supported by young, conservative voters.
Police officers escorted gubernatorial candidate James Fishback after his speech at UCF on Thursday. There was a heavy security presence on campus, with UCF police officers and Orange County sheriff deputies scattered throughout the College of Sciences, and Fishback’s own security detail staying close to him throughout the event.
Supporters came up to gubernatorial candidate James Fishback to personally discuss various topics after his speech at UCF on Thursday. Throughout the speech and in his conversations with students, he told the audience to think of the governor’s race, not as an election, but as a hiring process.
During his visit to UCF on Thursday, gubernatorial candidate James Fishback greeted supporters and took photos with them. Fishback promised students that as governor, he would help them land jobs and buy houses, so they could afford to get married and have children.
After his speech at UCF on Thursday, gubernatorial candidate James Fishback greeted supporters as he made his way to the back of the room. One way he connected with younger attendees was by using rhetoric they are familiar with, such as 6-7 jokes, “that’s cap,” and “just trust me, bro,” drawing a few laughs from the audience.