James Fishback, a Republican candidate for governor of Florida, surprised everyone by launching a political campaign on the dating app Tinder, with the aim of connecting with young female voters. The strategy, which is unconventional in American politics, allowed him to get more than 1,000 matches in less than 24 hours, according to the candidate himself.
“I joined Tinder to meet young female voters where they are and share my plan to make it easier for them to get married, buy a home, and raise a family”, Fishback explained on social media, where his initiative quickly went viral and attracted international attention.
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Paid maternity leave, the focus of his campaign message
In his profile picture, shared by the candidate himself, Fishback asserts that his “hottest opinion” is that Florida should grant state-paid maternity leave to all mothers, a proposal that contrasts with the traditional Republican Party discourse and seeks to attract young voters.
The 31-year-old Florida businessman and director of the investment firm Azoria Partners also said he requested donations to pay for the “Plus” version of Tinder so he could continue spreading his political message.
“Swipe right. Vote for Fishback. Put America first”, he wrote on his Instagram account.
Controversy over his proposal for a “sin tax” on OnlyFans
Fishback had already sparked controversy in January after proposing a 50% “sin tax” on OnlyFans models in Florida, the state where Miami is considered the national capital of the platform, as it has the highest concentration of content creators in the United States.
The Republican justified his proposal by saying that he does not want “young women, who would otherwise be mothers raising families, to be selling their bodies online”. The stance has been criticized, but it has also given him high media visibility in the race.
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Florida elections: Fishback advances in Republican polls
James Fishback is seeking to succeed current Governor Ron DeSantis and is competing in the Florida Republican primary against U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds, who has the backing of President Donald Trump.
According to a recent Patriot Polling survey, Fishback has 23% of the Republican vote, compared to Donalds’ 37%. However, among voters aged 29 and under, the candidate has 30% support, surpassing his rival, who has 25%, reinforcing the impact of his digital strategy aimed at young people.
