LEON COUNTY, Fla. – Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback is dealing with allegations from a former accomplice relating to a relationship that started when she was a minor, in line with paperwork filed in a 2025 Leon County court docket case. The girl, now an grownup, made the claims whereas recounting occasions that took place years earlier.
The allegations have been outlined in a Petition for Injunction for Safety Towards Stalking filed by Keniah Fort in January 2025. Fort said that she joined Fishback’s group in 2021 at age 16, whereas Fishback was 26, and that he initiated a romantic relationship together with her whereas she was nonetheless a minor. She stated he explicitly instructed her to maintain the connection secret, a tactic some specialists would possibly describe as grooming.
Paperwork present Fort alleged her relationship with Fishback escalated over time. In Spring of 2023, she stated she and Fishback started to stay together, throughout which she was financially depending on him as a consequence of irregular pay from her work in his group.
The petition describes repeated conflicts and aggressive conduct, together with Fishback throwing objects, screaming, and on one event grabbing Fort’s arm, leaving seen marks. Fort alleged Fishback tried to gaslight her and threatened self-harm to control her.
By March of 2024, the couple grew to become engaged, however the engagement led to September of that yr. Fort stated that after the breakup, Fishback’s conduct worsened. She made claims of cyberbullying and stalking, together with threatening to show off utilities of their shared residence and posting concerning the breakup on social media,
The petition additionally included references to textual content messages and different communications, alleging that Fishback despatched lots of of messages over a number of days, repeatedly contacting her after she requested him to not, and contacted her household. In keeping with paperwork, Fishback acknowledged in some messages that he had been “powerful” on her however denied threatening her.
The court docket in the end denied Fort’s petition for cover in June 2025, noting that Fishback could have been “a bit obsessive-compulsive” however didn’t provoke contact “instantly or not directly with no reputable function.”
Fishback issued an on-the-record assertion to Florida’s Voice::
“False accusations are sadly all too widespread right this moment. The court docket in Florida’s Second Judicial Circuit reviewed these egregious accusations, carried out two prolonged hearings, and absolutely exonerated me. I’ve by no means been arrested or charged with any crime in contrast to my opponent Byron Donalds.”
Fort is now an grownup and the allegations within the court docket paperwork have been made whereas she was an grownup. The general public data spotlight the age distinction and alleged secrecy throughout the preliminary part of the connection. When Florida’s Voice pressed Fishback for an announcement relating to the connection with a minor, he wouldn’t present extra remark past the assertion above.
The allegations have resurfaced as Fishback seeks the Republican nomination for Florida governor in 2026, a race that’s anticipated to attract important consideration from voters and political observers.
