Florida Governor Ron DeSantis unleashed sharp criticism against newly elected Republican Congressman Randy Fine, blaming him for a lackluster showing in a conservative district and reigniting a long-running feud rooted in personal and political grievances.
AT A GLANCE
- DeSantis called Fine a “squish” and blamed him for underperforming in a Republican stronghold.
- Fine won Florida’s 6th Congressional District by 14 points—the narrowest GOP margin there in years.
- Their feud escalated after Fine endorsed Trump over DeSantis in the 2024 primary.
- DeSantis accused Fine of opposing gun rights and immigration enforcement.
- Fine brushed off the attack, aligning himself closely with Trump and congressional Republicans.
DeSantis Takes Aim After Fine’s Narrow Win
Florida’s 6th Congressional District should have been a layup for Republicans—but Governor Ron DeSantis isn’t celebrating. Instead, he’s pointing fingers at newly elected GOP Congressman Randy Fine, blaming him personally for a surprisingly narrow 14-point win in the deeply conservative district. According to DeSantis, Fine’s lack of voter appeal—not any broader issues with the party or Donald Trump—explains the weak performance.
“This guy’s a squish,” DeSantis said, according to reporting from Fox News, claiming many Republicans “took one for the team” by voting for Fine despite reservations. The unusually blunt criticism comes amid a period of intra-party tension and signals an ongoing power struggle within Florida’s GOP ranks.
Watch DeSantis criticize Fine’s record on Fox News.
A Long-Running Republican Feud
DeSantis and Fine have clashed before. In what now seems like a prelude to their current battle, DeSantis once tried to move Fine out of the Florida legislature by nominating him to lead a state university—a move that ultimately failed. The feud intensified in late 2023 when Fine switched his support from DeSantis to Trump during the Republican presidential primary.
Since then, their relationship has deteriorated into open hostility. After Fine accused DeSantis of inaction on antisemitism in the wake of the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, DeSantis fired back, accusing Fine of opposing key conservative policies during his legislative tenure—including gun rights and tougher immigration laws.
Trump Backs Fine, Fueling the Divide
Despite DeSantis’s barbs, Fine has largely shrugged off the criticism. He emphasized his intent to work with Trump and strengthen the Republican majority in the House. Trump, for his part, endorsed Fine’s campaign and congratulated him on the win, underscoring the divide between the former president’s faction and the DeSantis camp.
Some allies of Fine argue that DeSantis’s attacks may have dampened Republican turnout, undermining a seat the party could have won by a larger margin. One GOP operative quoted by The Hill accused the governor of “undermining Trump’s candidates” by going after Fine so publicly.
What It Means for Florida and the GOP
This public spat comes at a pivotal time for the GOP, especially in Florida—a state where both Trump and DeSantis wield significant political capital. While Fine will begin his term in Congress with Trump’s blessing, DeSantis continues to shape policy in one of the country’s largest Republican-led states.
The Governor’s office has so far declined further comment on the matter, suggesting a strategic pause rather than a truce. For now, the rift highlights deeper divisions within the Republican Party as it grapples with reconciling Trump-aligned candidates with leaders pursuing alternate visions for the party’s future.
What remains unclear is how this ongoing feud will impact legislative cooperation or electoral dynamics in a battleground state crucial to both parties in 2024 and beyond.
