James Fishback is betting big on law and order in Florida's Republican primary for governor, rolling out his pick for lieutenant governor in Tallahassee on Thursday and making clear he is not trying to lower the temperature.
Fishback named his deputy campaign manager, Sean Lozano, a former Lauderhill police officer, as his running mate for the Aug. 18, 2026 primary. He cast the choice as a direct attempt to extend Gov. Ron DeSantis' tough-on-crime approach and bulk up his own public-safety bona fides in a GOP field that is already crowded and already combative.
Fishback said Lozano was chosen to carry forward DeSantis' brand of vocal support for law enforcement. The campaign wasted no time pushing out a video it said showed Lozano during an arrest. The post featured what the campaign described as body-camera footage of Lozano making a profanity-laced threat, and the clip quickly ricocheted across social media. The pick and the video were reported and amplified by statewide outlets, including the Miami Herald.
Body-Cam Clip Shows Ex-Officer's Profane Threat
In the video, Lozano is heard telling a suspect, "I'll f---ing smoke you motherf-----," language that news outlets transcribed and circulated after the campaign itself chose to put the footage out. The decision to highlight that moment instantly sharpened scrutiny of Lozano's record and of the campaign's judgment in elevating a onetime patrol officer to a statewide ticket. Coverage of the clip and its fallout was detailed by the Miami Herald.
Fishback Doubles Down On Law-And-Order Pitch
At the Tallahassee news conference, Fishback brushed aside concerns about police misconduct, calling the issue "a hoax pushed by the left" and asserting that there is a "crime problem in the Black community in this state." The comments, which critics quickly seized on, made clear that Fishback is not shying away from racially charged rhetoric as he leans into a public safety message.
He pointed to Lozano's time in uniform as exactly the sort of experience he believes is needed to keep DeSantis-era policing and public safety policies in place. Those remarks and the broader strategy were reported by the Tampa Bay Times.
Where This Fits In The Primary
Fishback and Lozano are jumping into a Republican field that already includes U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and former House Speaker Paul Renner. Lozano's selection appears designed to draw a sharp contrast with those more established names and to underline Fishback's relentless focus on crime and policing.
Donalds, backed by former President Donald Trump, continues to benefit from Trump's endorsement, which has given him early momentum and national attention in the contest. That endorsement and its impact on the race were previously reported by the AP.
Pushaw Ties And Campaign Background
Fishback, an investor who first drew notice through sharp-edged online attacks on political rivals, has already generated turbulence inside the party. Early in his campaign, he consulted with Christina Pushaw, a top DeSantis aide. Pushaw later said she did not inform the governor about her conversations with Fishback.
Those earlier controversies, combined now with a lieutenant governor pick whose introduction to many voters comes via a profane body-cam clip, give party insiders and primary voters even more to sort through as they assess his viability. Reporting on those ties and the broader campaign backstory was included in coverage by the Tampa Bay Times.
What To Watch Next
With the Aug. 18 primary drawing closer, the table is set for intensified attacks over policing, race and campaign alliances as Republicans court conservative voters across Florida. Fishback's move to put a former officer on the ticket signals that he intends to keep policing front and center, while better-known rivals with stronger name recognition and national backing look for ways to blunt that message before ballots are cast.
On the other side of the aisle, Democrat David Jolly has already moved to shore up his own ticket, announcing former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham as his running mate earlier this month, as reported by CBS Miami.
.jpg){kind=link}