A Florida GOP candidate joined Tinder to reach young women, then his campaign took a strange turn

Florida GOP gubernatorial candidate James Fishback attempted an unconventional outreach strategy by launching a Tinder account aimed at young female voters. The unusual move, which quickly circulated online, was highlighted by Fox News and immediately drew attention for blending dating apps with campaign messaging.

Fishback, a 31-year-old investment firm CEO, announced the effort on Monday, saying he wanted to meet young women “where they are.” He is running to succeed term-limited Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and positioned the dating app as a way to connect with younger voters outside traditional political channels.

According to Fox News, Fishback said he planned to use Tinder to share his ideas on making it easier for young women to get married, buy homes, and raise families. This comes amid other cultural debates, such as conservative responses to major entertainment events like an All-American Halftime Show conservative alternative to the Super Bowl halftime that have dominated cultural coverage.

The Tinder strategy unraveled almost immediately

Less than an hour after announcing the Tinder account, Fishback posted an update revealing he had already exhausted his available likes on the app. In a follow-up message, he asked supporters to donate so he could upgrade to Tinder Plus, writing that he had “run out of likes” and needed help paying for the subscription.

Fishback also shared a screenshot of his Tinder profile, which included a political “hot take” stating that Florida should offer paid maternity leave to all mothers. The position drew attention for its contrast with his broader Republican platform, which emphasizes traditional family values. This kind of political positioning comes as other GOP figures have made headlines recently for calls to nationalize the voting ahead of the midterms.

That platform has also included more controversial proposals. Fishback has said that if elected governor, he would push for a “sin tax” targeting OnlyFans content creators, arguing that the platform reflects cultural decline. In remarks made last month, he said young women were being encouraged to believe it is morally right to sell nude photos online and stated that he would not tolerate what he described as cultural degeneracy as Florida’s next Republican governor.

Fishback is entering a crowded Republican primary that includes U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, with his Tinder-based outreach and donation request now part of the early attention surrounding his campaign.