James Fishback is registered to vote in 2 states. Does that make him ineligible for Governor?

Gubernatorial candidate James Fishback has been registered to vote in two states since around 2020. While he never cast a ballot in both states in the same year, the issue raises questions about whether the Madison Republican meets eligibility requirements for Governor.

The 30-year-old has been registered to vote in Florida since 2012. He transferred his residence from Davie in Broward County to Madison County in 2023, according to the Madison County Supervisor of Elections Office.

But the D.C. Board of Elections confirms Fishback remains an active voter in Washington, where he registered in 2020.

That could complicate Fishback’s campaign for Governor, which he launched last month. Florida’s eligibility requirements for Governor require candidates to be registered to vote in Florida and to be residents of the state for at least seven years.

Of note, state law also requires a candidate for partisan office to be a registered member of the party for 365 days before an election. While Fishback is registered as a Republican in Florida, he is registered without party affiliation in Washington.

Fishback dismissed concerns about his eligibility to run for the GOP nomination for Governor.

“I’m a fourth generation Floridian and have lived here my entire life, and meet all of the constitutional requirements to serve as Governor if the voters entrust me with this awesome responsibility,” he said in a text to Florida Politics.

But despite being a Florida native, Fishback’s residency could be called into question. Fishback owns a property in Washington on 42nd Street, and records show he claimed a homestead exemption on it.

That’s notably a different address than the Davis Place residence where he is registered to vote. That property is owned by Aydee Fishback, according to Washington records, and Florida records show Jay Fishback as a primary owner of the Washington property.

James Fishback is the primary owner of a Pinkney Street home in Madison on property he purchased in 2022, according to Madison County property records. No homestead exemption is held on that property.

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Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics contributed to this report.