WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback will remain on Florida’s ballot after a judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging his residency.
Fishback announced the ruling in a post on X, writing:
It’s official. I will remain on your ballot. The disgraceful lawfare brought by Jay Collins and fueled by Byron Donalds has failed. This is a victory for our campaign, for the Constitution and for every Floridian who believes elections should be decided by voters.
In June, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins filed a lawsuit against Fishback, arguing that he did not meet the Florida Constitution’s requirement that candidates for governor must have lived in the state for the seven years preceding the election.
The 12-page lawsuit, filed in Leon County Circuit Court, alleged that public records showed Fishback established residency ties to Washington, D.C., between 2020 and 2026. According to Collins’ campaign, those records included voter registration and voting activity in Washington, property ownership, mortgage documents identifying a Washington residence as his primary residence, and participation in the District’s homestead tax program.
On Monday, Leon County Circuit Judge David Frank dismissed the lawsuit, allowing Fishback to remain on the Aug. 18 Republican primary ballot.