Former Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback (R) said he was denied entry to a political rally in Clearwater, Florida, on Saturday, October 24, 2026. The "Get Out the Vote" event was hosted by U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) and featured Republican gubernatorial nominee Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.) as special guests. Fishback reported that he and his wife were told he was "not welcome here" when attempting to enter the venue.
Fishback, a Republican who lost to Donalds in the 2026 Florida gubernatorial primary, said he has since endorsed 22 Republican candidates and assisted with volunteer mobilization. Earlier in 2026, Fishback stated his campaign was barred from Waffle House restaurants across the state during a planned tour. He has previously faced criticism for reports of racist comments and inappropriate behavior during his campaign.
Fishback alleged that Donalds threatened to have him arrested at the Saturday event, calling the action "disgraceful" for a public rally. Gates McGavick, communications director for the Donalds campaign, disputed this account on social media, stating that Donalds did not host the event, did not remove anyone, and did not threaten anyone with arrest. McGavick characterized Fishback's claims as false.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office provided a statement to local news station CBS 12 regarding the incident. The sheriff's office said that Rep. Luna's staff informed detectives that Fishback was not welcome at the rally. While detectives confirmed to Fishback that he was not permitted to enter, the sheriff's office stated that detectives did not threaten him with arrest.
The incident involves figures in Florida's political leadership, including a sitting U.S. Representative, the Republican nominee for governor, and a former primary candidate. Fishback stated that he received nearly 200,000 votes during his primary run. The event in Clearwater was a "Get Out the Vote" rally. The disagreement affects the campaign staff of two Florida politicians and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, which clarified the actions of its detectives on site.
Fishback described the campaign event as open to the public. As of October 25, 2026, no further legal action or formal police reports regarding an arrest have been documented.