The FFRF Action Fund’s “Theocrats of the Week” are two self-proclaimed Christian nationalist gubernatorial candidates.
James Fishback, a former CEO of an investment firm, is vying for Florida governor while state Rep. Monty Fritts was seeking the gubernatorial seat in Tennessee.
Fishback has overtly centered Christian nationalism in his gubernatorial campaign, claiming he would have a duty to promote Christianity if elected governor.
“And by God’s grace and the trust of the voters, we will pull off a historic upset in this election,” Fishback said last week while appearing on “The NXR Podcast,” a conservative Christian show. “It is time to say the truth, and I don’t care if it offends anyone. None of our Founding Fathers were Jewish. None of our Founding Fathers were Hindu. None of our Founding Fathers were Muslim. This country was built on Christian values, Christian principles. It needs to remain a safe place for Christians, and that’s only possible if we put Jesus Christ at the center of our politics once again.”
During another recent far-right podcast appearance with self-proclaimed Christian nationalist Joshua Haymes, a Doug Wilson-aligned pastor at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s church, Fishback agreed that the United States was founded “by Christians and for Christians” and that public servants have a responsibility to “promote true religion.”
“We are called to fully obey our Lord and Savior,” he said. “Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, the life. Not one way of many, not one truth of many, he is the only singular path to redemption and salvation. Now, how do you actually form a government based around that? Well, this is actually not something new, Joshua. This is something to restore … I call myself a restorationist. You have to, one, change the laws where possible. And two, you have to unapologetically profess and obey your faith, publicly and privately.”
“The Constitution is as true today as it was in 1787 when it was drafted in Philadelphia,” Fishback continued. “But what has changed is our people have become more secular. … I don’t think we can revive the United States as we know it if we’re not willing to unequivocally and singularly commit to Christianity.”
Fishback is deeply entrenched in dangerous far-right online circles, including the “Groyper” movement, comprised of followers of the violent white nationalist and antisemitic streamer Nick Fuentes. Fishback has routinely used dangerous dog whistles and other Fuentes-aligned language during his campaigning, and Fuentes has endorsed Fishback (though Fishback has downplayed their connection).
Fishback, who has never held political office, faces 10 opponents on the Republican ballot in the Aug. 18 Republican primary, including frontrunner U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds. Fishback is a long shot to win, but he has made significant gains since he announced his gubernatorial bid last year. He has more than doubled his polling standing over the past several months, pointing to the growing number of supporters extremists like Fishback are garnering.
In February, Fishback was first named “Theocrat of the Week” for saying that former CNN anchor and independent journalist Don Lemon was lucky for not being publicly executed following his coverage of anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis.
Tennessee state Rep. Monty Fritts, in office since 2022, was on the ballot in this week’s Republican primary. Fritts ran against two opponents, including the just-declared winner U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn.
While appearing on “The Todd Starnes Show,” Fritts claimed that he was “called” by God to run for governor and said that his campaign delivers a “chance to uplift Christ as King everywhere I go.”
“Some people are offended by that,” Fritts said. “Better to be offended and repent than spend eternity in hell.”
He also indicated while speaking with Starnes that he would discriminate against Muslims, declaring that he doesn’t see Islam as a religion and, as governor, would name “enemies of the United States,” Muslim civil rights groups, as “foreign terrorist organizations.”
“I think that Islam is not a religion. It’s a political movement, and it’s a movement by force at the point of a spear or a weapon,” Fritts said. “And I think it’s incongruent with our U.S. and Tennessee Constitutions, and I think we have [to] first assert that fact.”
Fritts claimed that he doesn’t see his attacks on Muslims as a threat to religious liberty, saying, “Most take that from this bitter lie that has been told about a separation of church and state. … [George Washington], Thomas Jefferson, those weren’t perfect people, but they did have a Christian worldview, and if we allow that to be dissipated, if we allow ourselves to be silenced by the cancel culture, then what we’re doing to our posterity is unacceptable.” In a May interview, Fritts also said that he would like to, if possible, wholly ban Islam alongside Buddhism, Hinduism and “other pagan religions.”
Even though Fritts lost his primary and Fitzgerald is not expected to win his, both have garnered dedicated cult followings in their states. Their rising political influence points to a dangerous trend where overt, unapologetic Christian nationalists are emerging as mainstream contenders in high-profile elections.
FFRF Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization that develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church. It also advocates for the rights and views of nonbelievers, endorses candidates for political office, and publicizes the views of elected officials concerning religious liberty issues.