Florida Governor Hopeful Sued Over Unpaid Scholarship Promise

Briana Whatley, a former national debate champion, is suing James Fishback, a Republican running for Florida governor, and his charity for $8,000 she says she was promised but never fully received. A May 2024 recording shows her accepting a $10,000 check, but the lawsuit says only $3,000 was actually paid. Florida's Republican primary is August 18, 2026; a pretrial hearing is set for September 9.