Florida GOP Candidate Faces Backlash Over Lynching Remark

A Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate faced widespread backlash after a video captured him telling a Black man he should be lynched during a heated public confrontation over past allegations of sexual misconduct. The exchange, which occurred at a campaign event and was posted online on Thursday, quickly went viral, amassing tens of thousands of views on platforms including X and Reddit.

In the footage, the man approached James Fishback, 31, amid a crowd and questioned him directly about accusations from Keniah Fort, a former employee at Fishback's nonprofit organization, Incubate Debate. Fort, who was 17 at the time, alleged in a January 2025 petition for a protective order that she began a romantic relationship with Fishback, then 27, in 2022. She further claimed he instructed her to keep it secret while she was underage and later engaged in cyberstalking after their breakup, during which they lived together and became engaged once she turned 18. A judge denied the petition, citing insufficient evidence, and no criminal charges were filed. Fishback has consistently denied any wrongdoing involving a minor, stating that the relationship began only after Fort reached...