Is this Groyper a worrying preview of the Republican partys future?

James Fishback might be America’s first ‘Groyper’ candidate, who embraces extreme alt-right shock tactics.The 31-year-old Florida gubernatorial hopeful has accused his black opponent of seeking to turn the state into a “Section 8 ghetto,” referring to Section 8 housing vouchers.He’s praised influencer Nick Fuentes’s supporters and admits to watching the streamer’s far-right show, which has been kicked off all mainstream platforms for hate speech.He flings around incomprehensible groyper language like “goyslop” at his rallies on Florida campuses.The guy is speaking straight to a new Gen Z reactionary right wing sensibility.

And, while it’s turning off older voters, it’s worryingly doing the trick with the new youth right.Despite his shameful rhetoric, Fishback has four times as much support as opponent Byron Donalds in the 18 to 34 age demo — a frightening indication of where Gen Z might be taking the party.According to a February poll from the University of North Florida, Florida Representative Byron Donalds leads in the general electorate at 31%, compared to Fishback’s 6%.Half of voters are still undecided. But Donalds’ 5 to 1 lead completely flips among young voters, where Fishback leads 4 to 1.

He is backed by 32% of 18-to-34-year-olds, while just 8% support Donalds. It’s a startling indication that Gen Z’s version of conservatism — honed online, and shaped by social media influencers and Twitch streamers — looks very different from their parents’ and grandparents’ versions.It seems as though Fishback is modeling his campaign off the Gen Z online right: be as provocative as possible for attention and clicks, and push the envelope as far as possible to sustain buzz.Fishback recently chased Byron Donalds down to call him “AIPAC Shakur” — a play on Tupac Shakur’s name and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee — to his face.He has also dubbed him a “token black” and a “slave to his donors,” while...