Full Breakdown
Florida Gubernatorial Candidate James Fishback Gains Endorsement from Pastor Joel Webbon
6/30/2026, 4:46:26 AM
Core Event: Webbon Endorses Fishback at Fort Lauderdale Rally
At a campaign rally in Fort Lauderdale, pastor Joel Webbon urged attendees to persuade their parents to vote for Republican gubernatorial hopeful James Fishback in the August 18 primary, invoking the Fifth Commandment. Fishback pledged to “nullify any law … that violates the Constitution” on his first day in office.
Background & Key Figures: Christian Nationalist Pastor and Gubernatorial Candidate
Joel Webbon is a pastor and media host who promotes a theocratic Christian nationalist agenda, including adding the Apostles’ Creed to the Constitution and limiting public office to Christians. James Fishback is a Republican candidate for Florida governor who has positioned himself as a radical right-wing contender and pledged to use executive authority to overturn statutes he deems unconstitutional.
Timeline of Campaign Developments
- Weeks before the rally – Webbon appeared on Fishback’s program praising the candidate.
- Week before August 18 primary – Webbon addressed a Fort Lauderdale rally urging voter support.
- August 18, 2024 – Republican primary for Florida governor.
Official Statements
Webbon framed the election as an effort to secure divine favor for all Floridians, asserting that a Fishback victory would “bless” the state. Fishback announced that his administration would review every law on his first day and nullify any provision he believes violates the Constitution, citing *Marbury v. Madison* as justification. *Marbury v. Madison* established judicial review, not unilateral nullification by elected officials.
Criticism & Constitutional Concerns
Monitoring groups describe Webbon’s ideology as antisemitic, misogynistic, and racist, and argue that his platform seeks to strip Americans of rights. Critics contend that Fishback’s nullification pledge conflicts with constitutional doctrine, which reserves the power to declare laws unconstitutional to the judiciary.
Conflicting Interpretations of *Marbury v. Madison*
Fishback claimed that *Marbury v. Madison* empowers elected officials to nullify laws, while a factual correction states the case created the principle of judicial review, limiting such authority to courts.
Impact & Implications
If Fishback wins and implements the nullification agenda, state statutes could face executive invalidation, prompting legal challenges and possible federal court intervention. Webbon’s endorsement may also mobilize voters motivated by religiously framed political messaging.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Remember, the Fifth Commandment is the first of all the commandments that comes along with a promise,” — Joel Webbon, Pastor
- “ "You are doing this for the good of everyone," Webbon proclaimed.” — Joel Webbon, Pastor
- “Madison, the landmark Supreme Court case in the early 1800s, made clear that any law that is repugnant to the Constitution is null and void.” — James Fishback, Gubernatorial Candidate
What’s Next
The August 18 Republican primary will decide the party’s nominee. A Fishback victory would likely trigger immediate legal scrutiny of his nullification plan, potentially resulting in court rulings on the limits of executive authority in Florida.
