Sophie Rain Calls Out Florida GOP Hopeful’s Tinder Gambit as Politics Collides With Platform Power

The collision of politics, platforms and personal branding rarely ends cleanly. Florida gubernatorial hopeful James Fishback learned that lesson in real time this week after posting a screenshot of his Tinder profile and announcing he had joined the dating app to “meet young female voters.” What he framed as digital-age outreach quickly spiraled into a backlash that underscores how thin the line has become between campaigning and provocation—and how quickly creators with cultural capital can reshape the narrative.

OnlyFans creator and influencer Sophie Rain was among the loudest critics, calling the move “creepy” and exploitative. “This isn’t outreach. This is voter exploitation,” Rain said. “If you’re using a dating app to meet ‘young female voters,’ you’re not campaigning. You’re preying.” Her critique landed not simply because of its bluntness, but because it echoed a broader discomfort many online observers voiced as the post spread.

Fishback, 31, a longshot Republican contender aiming to replace term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis, wrote that he joined Tinder to reach young women “where they are” and share a platform focused on marriage, homeownership and family formation. He punctuated the rollout with what he called his “hottest take”—a proposal for paid maternity leave for all mothers. When he later posted that he had “run out of likes” and solicited donations to upgrade to Tinder Plus, the effort tipped from unconventional to uncomfortable for many watching.

Online reactions were swift and unforgiving. Critics labeled the tactic performative, awkward and out of touch, with some posts calling it emblematic of a broader disconnect between political ambition and social awareness. The episode illustrates a growing risk for candidates who attempt to borrow the language and mechanics of creator culture without understanding its norms—or its guardrails.

Rain’s response carried additional weight given her prior clashes with Fishback over policy. The two have sparred publicly since he proposed a so-called “sin tax” on OnlyFans earnings in Florida—a 50 percent levy he says would fund teacher pay increases and improved school lunches. In a January interview, Fishback framed the proposal as a deterrent. “The purpose of the sin tax in economics is to disincentivize and deter a behavior,” he said. “I don't want young women… selling their bodies to sick men online.”

Rain has rejected that framing as sexist and economically illiterate, arguing that it reduces women to moral talking points while ignoring the realities of the creator economy. “Women aren’t props for your outdated family fantasy,” she said this week. “We’re not stepping stones for your political ambitions.”

The Tinder controversy also revived scrutiny of Fishback’s past. NBC News previously reported that a Florida school district cut ties with him following allegations from a woman who said he pursued her when she was a minor; she later filed for an order of protection in 2025. Fishback has denied the allegations, stating that they are false and emphasizing that he has never been arrested, charged or convicted of a crime.

For Rain, the moment encapsized a broader pattern. “This is what happens when you let personal bias drive your platform,” she said. “You go from attacking women’s choices to begging for Tinder likes. It’s embarrassing.”

Beyond the personalities, the episode reveals something larger about power and participation in the digital public square. Influencers like Rain are no longer adjacent to political discourse; they are active participants capable of reframing campaigns in real time. Meanwhile, candidates experimenting with platform-native tactics face heightened scrutiny from audiences fluent in online culture—and quick to call out what feels inauthentic.

In an era where attention is currency and platforms double as public forums, the Fishback-Rain clash is a case study in how not to blur the boundaries between outreach and opportunism. For voters—and creators—the message is clear: intent matters, context matters, and the internet is no longer forgiving to those who confuse visibility with viability.