{"id":2568425,"date":"2026-02-10T15:41:58","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T20:41:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republican-contender-for-florida-governor-allegedly-targeted-by-arson-attack\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T15:45:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T20:45:14","slug":"republican-contender-for-florida-governor-allegedly-targeted-by-arson-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republican-contender-for-florida-governor-allegedly-targeted-by-arson-attack\/","title":{"rendered":"Republican Contender for Florida Governor Allegedly Targeted by Arson Attack"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frepublican-contender-for-florida-governor-allegedly-targeted-by-arson-attack%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2568425&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/imagine-thinking-soaring-black-gun-ownership-is-a-bad-thing-pretty-racist-right\/\" title=\"Imagine Thinking \u2018Soaring\u2019 Black Gun Ownership Is A Bad Thing. Pretty Racist, Right?\">article covers<\/a> the Florida governor\u2019s race to replace Ron DeSantis and a troubling security incident linked to a candidate. It notes that DeSantis will be term-limited in 2027 and that potential contenders include front-runner Rep. Byron Donalds, who has earned Trump\u2019s support. One challenger, James Fishback, reported an arson attack at his Madison, Florida home, announced by his campaign manager Emma Wright on X with accompanying statements and tweets showing support from Republicans nationwide. Fishback, a 31-year-old businessman who has not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pennsylvania-lieutenant-governor-to-run-for-senate-seat-being-vacated-by-gops-toomey\/\" title=\"Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor to Run for Senate Seat Being Vacated by GOP\u2019s Toomey\">held office<\/a> before, has emphasized that he is not a politician and responded by thanking supporters and holding a rally at his home to demonstrate resilience; authorities reportedly did not open a criminal inquiry into the fire. The primary to officially recognize party nominees is scheduled for august, with the general election in November.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>The race to replace GOP stalwart and current Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is heating up &mdash; literally in one case.<\/p>\n<p>DeSantis, who will be termed out come 2027, has seen plenty of potential replacements make their intent known, including front-running Rep. Byron Donalds, who is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2025\/02\/25\/trump-endorsed-byron-donalds-florida-00206144\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">supported<\/a> by President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<p>One of those challengers, GOP contender James Fishback, has also recently made it known that an <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >apparent arson attack targeted<\/a> his home.<\/p>\n<p>Fishback&rsquo;s campaign manager, Emma Wright, announced the allegation on X.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Official Statement on Sunday&rsquo;s Arson Attack Targeting James Fishback&rsquo;s Home<\/p>\n<p>James Fishback, candidate for Florida Governor, returned home to Madison, FL for the first time since launching his campaign for Governor ten weeks ago. Shortly after 5:50 p.m. on Sunday, a fire was&hellip;<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Emma Wright (@emmawrightFL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/emmawrightFL\/status\/2020643537075741085?\">February 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Fishback is a 31-year-old businessman who has not held political office before. (&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not a politician,&rdquo; he declares in a<a href=\"https:\/\/fishback2026.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> campaign video<\/a>, where he targets Donalds repeatedly.)<\/p>\n<p>According to Wright, Fishback had recently returned to his home in Madison, Florida, near the George border.<\/p>\n<p>It was the first time he returned home since launching his campaign for governor 10 weeks ago.<\/p>\n<p>Wright wrote that Fishback and his staff were working on Sunday evening, when a fire &ldquo;was intentionally set&rdquo; in his yard. The blaze then began to cut a path to Fishback&rsquo;s home.<\/p>\n<p>Thankfully, the fire was stopped before it actually reached the house.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We are grateful to the Madison County Fire Rescue for their swift response and for containing the fire before it damaged his home,&rdquo; Wright&rsquo;s X post, which presumably doubles as a statement from the Fishback campaign, stated.<\/p>\n<p>It further condemned the political climate festering in the country: &ldquo;This act of arson should be unequivocally condemned. Political violence of any kind is unacceptable and has no place in America.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>However, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/articles\/florida-governor-candidate-alleges-political-025059830.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WFLA-TV<\/a>, the Madison County Sheriff&rsquo;s Office local sheriff&rsquo;s office said there was no criminal investigation opened in the fire.<\/p>\n<p>Fishback himself, meanwhile, provided some photos, including the responding firefighters and the burnt ground presumably near his home.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Someone just tried to set my house on fire&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/DGDQADvegd\">pic.twitter.com\/DGDQADvegd<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; James Fishback (@j_fishback) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/j_fishback\/status\/2020636728801857578?\">February 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Fishback responded to the incident by doing two things.<\/p>\n<p>First, he made sure to thank the support he had been getting from various concerned Republicans throughout the country.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Thank you, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UFCR?\">@UFCR<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/wuPStdVlgn\">https:\/\/t.co\/wuPStdVlgn<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; James Fishback (@j_fishback) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/j_fishback\/status\/2020927908450271391?\">February 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Patriots. Thank you <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NYYRC?\">@NYYRC<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/MOWTgD7MPv\">https:\/\/t.co\/MOWTgD7MPv<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; James Fishback (@j_fishback) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/j_fishback\/status\/2020918953200038158?\">February 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Second, and perhaps more notably, Fishback wanted to send a clear message to any would-be arsonists that he would not be intimidated by such antics. Fishback accomplished this by holding a rally specifically at his Madison home.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"zxx\"><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/S6fVFoB0nz\">https:\/\/t.co\/S6fVFoB0nz<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; James Fishback (@j_fishback) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/j_fishback\/status\/2020996850216477155?\">February 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The primary races to officially recognize party nominees will take place in August. The election will be in November.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Florida\u2019s GOP race to succeed Ron DeSantis, who is term-limited in 2027, is heating up. Leading potential candidate Rep. Byron Donalds has the backing of Donald Trump. Another challenger, James Fishback, recently disclosed that his Madison, Florida home was targeted in an apparent arson attack. Fishback\u2019s campaign manager Emma Wright said the fire was intentionally set in his yard and that firefighters managed to stop it before it reached the house. Wright used X to denounce the act as political violence and to condemn the hostile political climate. According to WFLA-TV, the Madison County Sheriff\u2019s Office said no criminal investigation has been opened. Fishback, a 31-year-old businessman with no prior political office, shared photos from the scene and thanked Republican supporters nationwide. He also held a rally at his Madison home to show he won\u2019t be intimidated. In a campaign video, Fishback says, \u201cI\u2019m not a politician.\u201d The primary to nominate party candidates is in August, with the general election in November<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2568426,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/firetruck-for-feb.-10-2026.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[73509,73508,6203],"class_list":["post-2568425","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-arsonattack","tag-floridapolitics","tag-gop"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/firetruck-for-feb.-10-2026.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568425","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2568425"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568425\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2568433,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568425\/revisions\/2568433"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2568426"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2568425"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2568425"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2568425"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}