Fishback picks ex-South Florida cop as his running mate in governor’s race

Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback on Thursday picked his running mate: his deputy campaign manager, Sean Lozano.

Fishback said he chose Lozano, a former police officer with the Lauderhill Police Department, to help continue Gov. Ron DeSantis’ support for Florida law enforcement.

Soon after Fishback made his announcement, a social media account associated with the campaign posted body camera footage of Lozano arresting a man, telling him “I’ll f---ing smoke you motherf-----.”

When asked if he was concerned about police brutality, Fishback said it was a “hoax pushed by the left.”

Earlier in the news conference, he also said there was a “crime problem in the Black community in this state.”

Fishback, an investor, rose to prominence as he levied racist attacks against the race’s GOP frontrunner, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds.

Donalds has been endorsed by President Donald Trump.

DeSantis, who is term-limited, has not endorsed any of the Republicans vying to replace him.

Early on in Fishback’s campaign, he consulted with one of DeSantis’ top staffers, Christina Pushaw.

Pushaw later said she never told the governor about her communications with Fishback.

Fishback is the second major candidate in the 2026 gubernatorial race to announce their lieutenant governor pick.

David Jolly, a Democrat, earlier this month announced that former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham — the daughter of former Florida governor Bob Graham — would join him on the ticket.

The primary election is Aug. 18. Along with Fishback and Donalds, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and former House Speaker Paul Renner are prominent Republicans running.