Campaign

Influencer Dan Bilzerian files paperwork to challenge Fine in Florida

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by Caroline Vakil - 04/08/26 1:54 PM ET

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by Caroline Vakil - 04/08/26 1:54 PM ET

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Social media influencer Dan Bilzerian filed paperwork Tuesday to challenge Rep. Randy Fine (R) in Florida’s 6th Congressional District.

Bilzerian filed as a Republican for a House district that includes Palm Coast and Daytona Beach, according to a filing from the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The address included on the FEC filing is the same address as Lake County Commissioner Anthony Sabatini’s law firm.

Sabatini confirmed to The Hill that Bilzerian was running for Congress. The social media influencer, who boasts nearly 30 million followers on Instagram and regularly posts photos of himself alongside women wearing bikinis, told The Daytona Beach News-Journal earlier this month that he would run against Fine.

Bilzerian, who has a history of antisemitic social media posts, has previously criticized Fine, who is Jewish, over his religion as well as his stance on Israel. The influencer has also slammed President Trump’s policy, which is likely to become a political liability for the social media influencer in the GOP House district.

In a Tuesday post on the social platform X, Bilzerian also ripped the president over his handling of the war in Iran — comments that came before Trump announced a temporary ceasefire with the Middle Eastern country.

“Trump is an extreme narcissist, he’s going to nuke Iran because his ego can’t handle that he’s losing the war and his lies will be exposed,” Bilzerian wrote on X. “25th amendment.”

A Fine campaign spokesperson responded to Bilzerian’s campaign filing by noting Trump’s previous support of the incumbent.

“Congressman Randy Fine is the only person in America that President Trump has endorsed three times in the past two years, including in his current reelection,” the spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the Florida Republican is one of Trump’s “greatest allies.”

“Randy Fine will never back down in the face of any effort to impeach President Trump and obstruct the will of the American people,” the spokesperson continued.

Fine, who is serving his first term in Congress after winning a special election to fill U.N. Ambassador Mike Waltz’s seat in the House last year, was endorsed by Trump. The Florida Republican represents a district that Trump won by 30 points in 2024, according to The Downballot, though the state is considering changes to its House map this month.

Bilzerian faces an uphill climb given the congressional district’s reliably red leanings and his criticism of the president. The Florida primary is Aug. 18.

Emily Brooks contributed to this report

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