Ron DeSantis built his career as the anti-establishment conservative who took on the woke mob and won.
Now one of his most trusted aides just blew up that image in spectacular fashion.
And a DeSantis aide called one Republican candidate 28 times in the middle of night before a scandal exploded.
DeSantis's Top Aide Created Frankenstein's Monster
Christina Pushaw spent months secretly advising James Fishback's gubernatorial campaign while collecting a nearly $180,000 taxpayer-funded salary as DeSantis' senior adviser.
She told NBC News in December she wasn't working for Fishback.
That was a lie.
Pushaw admitted Sunday night she spent two months offering Fishback advice starting in October 2025 after he messaged her on X.
Fishback confirmed Pushaw served as an informal advisor and traveled to his campaign events.
The relationship imploded last week when Lt. Gov. Jay Collins entered the governor's race.
Pushaw called Fishback 28 times in a row until 1:26 in the morning.
He refused to drop out and endorse Collins.
That's when things got ugly.
The Screenshots That Prove Everything
Pushaw claimed Sunday she was afraid Fishback would weaponize his platform against her.
She denied any romantic or sexual relationship with Fishback.
Fishback fired back by posting screenshots of their private messages.
The texts showed Pushaw asking him to confirm he deleted messages referencing her.
Fishback replied "Yes" and wished her luck.
https://twitter.com/j_fishback/status/2013075881485373580?s=20
So much for being afraid of him.
Pushaw's leaked messages revealed she planned to resign Monday morning.
She apologized to Rep. Byron Donalds, Jay Collins, and the DeSantis family for any embarrassment her communications with Fishback might bring.
Pushaw wrote that DeSantis had no idea and would never have condoned her communications with Fishback.
But a close friend and confidant of DeSantis told The Floridian a different story on condition of anonymity.
"Ron hates Byron so much that he was willing to look the other way," the source said. "He is just as complicit as they are."
Trump's Pick Sits Above The Chaos
Pushaw's scandal exposes the desperation in the DeSantis world to stop Byron Donalds.
Trump endorsed Donalds in February before the congressman even formally launched his campaign.
The latest Mason-Dixon poll shows Donalds crushing the field with 37% support.
Collins, former House Speaker Paul Renner, and Fishback combined don't crack double digits.
https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/2013057856845520931?s=20
When voters learn Trump endorsed Donalds, his lead explodes to 68% in some polls.
That's why Pushaw was so frantic to get Fishback out of the race.
DeSantis knows Fishback and Renner split the anti-Donalds vote and guarantee Trump's pick wins the primary.
Pushaw apparently thought she could prop up Fishback to damage Donalds, then convince Fishback to drop out for Collins once Casey DeSantis decided not to run.
The plan backfired spectacularly.
The DeSantis Era Ends In Embarrassment
Pushaw rose to prominence as DeSantis's combative press secretary before joining his failed 2024 presidential campaign.
She commanded online influencers who attacked Trump on DeSantis's behalf during the primary.
Trump crushed DeSantis anyway.
Pushaw previously had to retroactively register as a foreign agent for work she did for a Georgian politician before joining DeSantis.
https://twitter.com/joanfromdc/status/2013225231721107767?s=20
She weathered that storm.
But moonlighting for a controversial gubernatorial candidate while on the state payroll and lying about it to reporters crossed the line.
Pushaw herself admitted this catastrophic error of judgment could make her unemployable.
The 2026 Florida gubernatorial primary has turned into a proxy war between Trump and DeSantis factions.
Trump moved quickly to back Donalds and lock up his lane.
The DeSantis world spent a year waiting for Casey to run, then scrambled when she passed.
Collins entered too late with too little support.
Fishback and Renner divide what's left of the anti-Trump vote.
And Pushaw just admitted she helped create the mess while working for taxpayers.
Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz summed it up perfectly in a statement to Breitbart News.
"Trump-endorsed Byron Donalds is the only serious candidate in the race," Bruesewitz said.
Sources:
- Frank Kopylov, "DeSantis aide accuses GOP candidate James Fishback of threats, prompting online dispute," Florida's Voice, January 18, 2026.
- Javier Manjarres, "Christina Pushaw's Support of James Fishback Leads to Epic Political Embarrassment to Gov. Ron DeSantis," The Floridian, January 19, 2026.
- A.G. Gancarski, "Severed alliance: Christina Pushaw befriends, advises James Fishback … then regrets it," Florida Politics, January 19, 2026.
- Matthew Boyle, "Tallanasty: DeSantis Adviser Embroiled in Filthy Scandal Plaguing Florida GOP Gubernatorial Primary Undercard," Breitbart, January 19, 2026.
- Mitch Perry, "Latest 2026 Florida GOP gubernatorial poll shows Byron Donalds blowing away the rest of the field," Florida Phoenix, January 9, 2026.
