DeSantis escalates attacks on Randy Fine: ‘He’s a squish’
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis escalated his criticism of Representative-elect Randy Fine on Wednesday, attributing Fine’s “unique problems” to a narrow victory in a district traditionally held by Republicans. The candidate, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, secured the special election by a 14-point margin, marking the slimmest victory for a Republican in the district since 2018.
DeSantis, who had previously questioned Fine’s ability to secure a win, labeled the representative-elect a “squish” who failed to resonate with Republican voters. The governor suggested that Trump’s endorsement was the decisive factor in Fine’s victory, implying that voters reluctantly supported Fine out of party loyalty rather than genuine enthusiasm for the candidate.
During a press conference, DeSantis dismissed media reports linking the close race to President Trump’s agenda, asserting that Fine’s personal shortcomings were the primary reason for the tight race. He described Fine as someone who “repels” people, including his former colleagues in the state legislature. DeSantis recounted an incident where lawmakers requested Fine be appointed as president of Florida Atlantic University to remove him from the legislature, a proposal that was met with strong opposition.
The strained relationship between DeSantis and Fine dates back to 2023 when Fine withdrew his endorsement of DeSantis in favor of Trump during the 2024 Republican presidential nomination battle. Fine’s decision was motivated by his criticism of DeSantis’s handling of antisemitism following attacks by Hamas in 2023.
DeSantis accused Fine of supporting gun control measures, opposing immigration enforcement proposals, and advocating for sanctuary city policies. In response, Fine took to social media to dismiss DeSantis’s criticisms, emphasizing his commitment to working with President Trump to advance conservative policies.
Supporters of Fine expressed dissatisfaction with DeSantis’s public attacks on the representative-elect, accusing the governor and his wife of prioritizing their own agenda over supporting President Trump and his endorsed candidates. A national Republican operative in Trump’s circle criticized DeSantis for undermining the president’s agenda and suggested that the governor’s actions could have suppressed Republican voter turnout in the special election.
Despite requests for comment, Governor DeSantis’s office declined to respond to the criticism. The contentious relationship between DeSantis and Fine underscores the ongoing power struggle within the Republican Party and the competing interests at play in Florida politics.
