Florida school district cut ties with GOP candidate James Fishback in 2022 over sexual misconduct allegations

A Florida school district cut ties in 2022 with James Fishback, a GOP candidate for governor, following allegations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a student who was a minor at the time, according to interviews and records reviewed by NBC News.

One of Florida’s largest school districts cut ties in 2022 with James Fishback, now a Republican candidate for governor, following allegations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a student who was a minor at the time, according to interviews and records reviewed by NBC News.

Earlier this year, the woman, Keinah Fort, went to court asking for an order of protection against Fishback. She said he “initiated a romantic relationship” with her in spring 2022 — and directed her to keep it a secret — when, she said, he was 27 and she was 17 and working for his group Incubate Debate. Fishback founded the organization in 2019, partnering with school districts in Florida to build debate programs for middle and high school students.

Fort said in court records that they lived together and were briefly engaged after she turned 18. During that time, Fishback lost his temper and threw things at her “on multiple occasions,” according to the court filings, which were first reported by Florida Politics.

Fishback, in response, claimed that Fort suffered from mental health issues that predated their relationship and presented evidence that he said showed she wanted to “rekindle” their relationship as recently as December 2024. He also claimed that she was going after him and Incubate Debate after she worked for a competing organization. Fishback has denied wrongdoing.

The judge denied Fort’s petition, which centered not on whether their initial relationship was inappropriate but on whether Fishback harassed her after they broke up. The judge ruled that he did not.