Dec. 13, 2025, 10:07 AM ESTBy Matt DixonA top aide to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been communicating with Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback, a controversial figure who has denied any interactions with the governor’s political orbit.The aide, Christina Pushaw, has spoken to Fishback, his top adviser and Fishback’s uncle — South Florida investor and real estate mogul Fred Fishback — about Fishback’s gubernatorial campaign, according to a person familiar with the relationship and Fishback’s uncle. Last month, Fishback jumped into the 2026 Republican primary to succeed DeSantis — who is term-limited and cannot run again — as a pro-DeSantis candidate who backs the outgoing governor’s agenda. The front-runner is currently Rep. Byron Donalds, who has Trump’s endorsement but is at odds with DeSantis. It’s widely believed the governor is still looking for a candidate to support.Those in DeSantis’ political orbit have pushed back against claims that they are helping or advising Fishback, whose prolific social media presence has faced criticism. Fishback has repeatedly called Donalds, who is Black, a “slave” to his political donors, and he has praised followers of Nick Fuentes, a far-right activist known for his white nationalist and antisemitic views, as “impressive.” When asked about any ties to Fishback’s orbit, Pushaw said she was not working for the campaign.“The story is simply not accurate,” she told NBC News Thursday night. “I do not work for James Fishback and never have.”Pushaw has been one of DeSantis’ most high-profile advisers. She helped build his popular reputation and social media profile with national Republican voters ahead of his 2024 bid for president. Pushaw also grew her own following with conservatives because of her social media presence and the aggressive way in which she, at times publicly, battled with reporters. Pushaw has been a Florida state employee since 2021, including serving as DeSantis’ press secretary. She currently makes $180,000 working as a “senior management analyst,” state records show.Gov. Ron DeSantis so far has yet to make an endorsement in the governor’s race to succeed him in 2026.Joe Raedle / Getty ImagesNBC News viewed a video showing Fishback’s uncle, Fred, answering questions from a small group of people at the opening night party of a Noble Capital Markets conference held last week in Boca Raton that indicates Pushaw is involved with his political efforts. During the event, Fred Fishback can be heard answering questions from a small group of people about Pushaw’s involvement in his nephew’s campaign, and claiming he himself has spoken to her.“I don’t know anything about her, other than we had a nice talk,” Fred Fishback said, according to the video from Dec. 2. “She seems to be a smart girl.”In the video, Fred Fishback said that Pushaw told him that she had reached out to his nephew after admiring his rapid-fire social media posts focused on conservative politics.“She liked whatever he said, and she just reached out to him,” Fred Fishback said in the video. “All I know is she said he reached out to him because she liked her Twitter stuff.”“They sat down and started talking,” he said.Fred Fishback was at the event because he has been longtime friends with rapper Vanilla Ice, who was receiving an award.Fred Fishback confirmed in a text message to NBC News that he discussed Pushaw at the event. He said he talked to her one day when he was driving to pick up his son from college, but he didn’t specify the date. He said during that phone call with Pushaw, there were some “financial-type questions,” but no direct ask for any sort of political contributions.“To be clear, neither Christina nor James have explicitly asked for my financial support for his campaign, and she specifically told me on our call she was not being paid by James,” he said, adding, “I do genuinely wish everyone the best, especially my nephew as well as my wonderful State of Florida.”Pushaw told NBC News she doesn’t know Fred Fishback. James Fishback told NBC News on Friday that his uncle was “dead wrong” and added that Pushaw did not work for him.“Honestly, my uncle is the last person who should be taking questions about my campaign since I have barely spoken to him about it and do not seek to involve him,” he said, adding that he and his uncle disagree on a number of issues — including AI data centers and H-1B visas — but that he loves him “dearly.” He acknowledged he had dinner with Pushaw in October before he decided to run for governor because she is “brilliant.”Rep. Byron Donalds has Trump’s endorsement in the Florida governor’s race.Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call via Getty ImagesLast month, NBC News reported that a separate DeSantis adviser, Taryn Fenske, was also communicating with Fishback, but at the time he said he was not in communication with Pushaw. It’s unclear if DeSantis is aware that two of his top aides are in communication with Fishback. His office did not return a request seeking comment.Fishback aide Alex Mungia said during a dinner that the campaign had been talking directly with Pushaw in some capacity, according to a source directly familiar with the conversation, who said it took place a few weeks ago.The person told NBC News that Mungia told them the campaign has the full support of DeSantis’ team. The person said they asked if that support was coming from Pushaw, to which Mungia replied, “Who told you?”“He admitted it fully,” the person said of Mungia discussing Pushaw being involved with the campaign.When asked about the dinner, Mungia praised Fishback.“James Fishback has been a great friend, and will make an incredible governor for our state,” he said.In a social media post written at 11 p.m. on Thursday, James Fishback said that over the weekend, his uncle urged him to leave the governor’s race and endorse Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who is considering a run. James Fishback alleged Collins lobbied his uncle to help get him out of the race.“Today I learned that @JayCollinsFL went to my own uncle and asked him to pressure me to drop out of the Florida Governor race,” Fishback posted. “After meeting with Collins without my knowledge, my uncle called me over the weekend urging me to drop out and endorse Collins.”Pushaw retweeted Fishback’s post.Collins said he is focused on his day job, not the Fishback allegations.“Lt. Gov. Jay Collins is focused on serving the people,” a spokesperson for Collins said. “Not false and fabricated stories.”During the conference last week in Boca Raton, Fred Fishback was asked if he thought his nephew was being “used” as part of his race for governor, and he seemed to agree with the sentiment.“I can see the crash,” he said, according to the video. “I can see the crash and burn, and he does not see it.” Matt DixonMatt Dixon is a senior national politics reporter for NBC News, based in Florida.