'You Need a Governor Who Can Do a Little Carjacking in GTA'…

Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback told supporters the state needs a governor capable of doing "a little carjacking" in Grand Theft Auto 6. The remark was offered alongside a campaign trail pledge to hold a GTA 6 marathon.

Fishback, 31, is the CEO of Azoria Partners, an investment management firm he co-founded in 2023. He is also running a long-shot GOP campaign to succeed Ron DeSantis as governor of Florida. Throughout his ongoing bid, Fishback has sought to distinguish himself from Rep. Byron Donalds, the current frontrunner in the race. Most recently, those efforts have tapped into the hype surrounding GTA 6, Rockstar’s twice-delayed blockbuster.

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By Sarah Fields

Florida Governor Candidate Promises GTA 6 Marathon If He Wins

During a recent episode on the campaign trail, Fishback pledged to hold a 24-hour GTA 6 marathon at the governor's mansion if he wins. "You need a governor who can do a little carjacking in GTA," the candidate said on January 23, prompting applause from his small audience. Elaborating on the pledge, Fishback explained he intends to offer a chance for "every single top student" from Florida public schools to participate in the marathon after he wins the race and GTA 6 is finally released.

Fishback's campaign trail pledge was shared hundreds of times and amassed over 5,800 likes on Twitter, ultimately surpassing 273,000 views in the first two days of being published on January 23. Part of the punchline here lies in the setting: GTA 6 is set in Leonida, Rockstar's fictional stand-in for Florida. While that makes the game a topical reference for a gubernatorial candidate, it wasn’t the only reason it came up, with Fishback noting he grew up playing GTA: San Andreas, calling it a "very interesting game." He did not specify when this occurred, though it may not have been immediately after the game's 2004 release, as he would have been only nine years old at the time.

Florida Governor Candidate Isn't Convinced GTA 6 Is Coming Out Anytime Soon

The widely shared campaign video ends with Fishback fielding a question about whether he will "still be governor" by the time GTA 6 comes out, assuming he's elected in the first place. "Probably not," he responded with a wide smile. The off-hand remark underscores ongoing skepticism about whether Rockstar's much-anticipated title will truly meet its current release date target of November 19. For reference, the game was first announced in December 2024 with a fall 2025 release window, which was pushed to May 26, 2026, six months later. The current date was set in October 2025.

Next GTA 6 Development Status Update Is Coming Soon

Whether GTA 6 will meet its current release date may become clearer on February 3, when Take-Two Interactive is scheduled to publish its next consolidated financial report. Since formally announcing the title, the publisher has offered vague development updates in each subsequent earnings report, either unprompted or in response to analyst questions. The same is expected to be the case with this upcoming report, which will cover the third quarter of the company's fiscal year 2026, i.e., the three-month period ending December 31, 2025.

Fishback Unlikely to Be in Position to Fulfill GTA 6 Campaign Pledge

As for Fishback, he is unlikely to have to make good on his GTA 6 marathon promise because his chances of becoming the next governor of Florida are slim at best. According to the latest polls, Rep. Byron Donalds remains the clear frontrunner, projected to secure between 29% and 45% of the Republican primary vote on August 18. Fishback, by contrast, is polling at just 1% to 3%—and that's based on the most optimistic estimates, as some polls don't even acknowledge him. The Florida general election is scheduled for November 3.

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