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Florida Politician Goes On Dating App To ‘Meet Young Female Voters Where They Are’

A man running in the Republican primary for Florida governor is apparently willing to go anywhere to meet potential voters ― even dating apps.

One of the ways the 31-year-old investor and hedge fund manager James Fishback said he hopes to reach voters is by having a Tinder account, the existence of which he announced Monday in a post on X.

“I’ve 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,” he posted.

Fishback — who is running 15 points behind Rep. Byron Donalds to represent the GOP in the upcoming gubernatorial election — followed up a short time later by asking for donations so he could upgrade his account.

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People on social media were fairly creeped out by Fishback’s method of voter outreach. But past allegations of ****** misconduct made it even worse.

NBC News reported that the Republican was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old girl when he was 27. According to the outlet, the teen worked for Fishback’s debate training group, Incubate Debate, which partnered with Florida school districts to build debate programs.

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Fishback allegedly “initiated a romantic relationship” with her in spring 2022.

The teen, who said Fishback told her not to tell anyone about their relationship, said she lived with him for a time and was briefly engaged to him after she turned 18. She later alleged that he was harassing her and asked for a protective order against him, which was denied.

Fishback told NBC News the allegations are “completely false.” “I have never been arrested, charged, or convicted of any crime,” he told the network.

Fishback nonetheless seems eager to court controversy during his campaign.

RawStory notes that he accused Donalds, his Black Republican opponent, of wanting “to turn Florida into a Section 8 ghetto,” and suggested that former CNN anchor Don Lemon should be grateful he wasn’t “hanged in the public square” after the Trump administration indicted him over his coverage of a protest.