Texts from James Fishback committee hint his opponents want political violence

A political committee tied to gubernatorial candidate James Fishback sent a text message blast inferring his political opponents want him shot. At least one recipient of the message said the texts crossed an ethical line, and even reported the matter to the FBI.

The texts, from Florida First PAC, contain a photo of Fishback, but edited to appear in the view of sniper rifle sights. It then attributes high-stakes motives for two of his Republican Primary opponents, Jay Collins and Byron Donalds. The candidates all face off in an Aug. 18 Primary to determine the GOP nominee for Governor.

“Jay Collins and Byron Donalds may have their disagreements, but both men agree that Fishback must be stopped at all costs,” the message states.

That followed a quote of Collins, in a social media post criticizing Fishback’s anti-Israel political views, stating “Fishback’s positions are indistinguishable from radical terrorists.”

To Dave Ball, who received the text on Monday evening, the messaging floats dangerously close to inciting political violence, so much so he reported it to law enforcement. He spoke both to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI; the latter agency typically investigates threats of political violence.

To Ball, the posts go beyond bad taste. A year after the slaying of political activist Charlie Kirk and after multiple assassination attempts on President Donald Trump, including one in Florida, he said the assertions in the text only serve to stir up extremism.

“I just thought this was way too much,” Ball said. “When you say they are trying to assassinate you, and they are coming at you ‘at all costs’ and you’re a terrorist, now it’s like you are looking for some wacko to take action on this.”

Mix that with Fishback’s penchant for showing up at Donalds events and shouting “slave” through a megaphone and Ball worries the Fishback campaign has lost all sense of boundaries and morals.

“It’s all the symptoms of being a sociopath,” Ball said. “It’s like they know, here’s the line and here’s the boundary but we’re crossing it without thinking of the consequences.”

Florida Politics reached out to Collins, Fishback and Donalds for comment.