Florida Governor Ron DeSantis publicly blasted newly elected GOP Congressman Randy Fine, calling him a “squish” and attributing his narrow victory in a traditionally Republican district to personal unpopularity rather than any weakness in Trump’s endorsement power. The conflict between the two Republicans intensified after Fine switched his endorsement from DeSantis to Trump in 2023. DeSantis revealed he once tried to remove Fine from the legislature by nominating him for a university presidency.
DeSantis Unleashes on Fellow Republican After Narrow Victory
Governor Ron DeSantis did not mince words when discussing Congressman Randy Fine’s recent electoral performance in Florida’s 6th District. In what political observers describe as an unusually public intra-party conflict, DeSantis criticized Fine for winning by only 14 percentage points in a traditionally Republican stronghold. The governor suggested that Fine’s margin—the smallest for a Republican in the district since 2018—reflected personal liabilities rather than any weakness in Trump’s endorsement power, which Fine had prominently featured in his campaign.
During a press conference, DeSantis characterized Fine as someone who “repels people” and claimed Republican voters had “taken one for the team” by supporting him despite reservations. The governor rejected media narratives suggesting the tight race reflected poorly on Trump’s agenda, instead pointing directly at Fine’s unpopularity. This public rebuke represents the latest chapter in an increasingly bitter feud between the two Florida Republicans, with potential implications for GOP unity in a critical election year.
Wow. @GovRonDeSantis calling out Randy Fine for what he is – a terrible candidate. We don’t see this enough in politics.
— Mayor of DeSantisville (@DeSantisville) March 25, 2025
Deep-Rooted Political Tensions
The animosity between DeSantis and Fine has historical roots predating the current electoral dispute. According to Fox News reporting, DeSantis revealed he had previously attempted to remove Fine from the Florida legislature by nominating him for a university presidency position—an appointment that was ultimately rejected. This disclosure adds context to what appears to be a long-simmering personal and political rivalry within Florida’s Republican establishment.
The relationship deteriorated significantly in 2023 when Fine publicly withdrew his support from DeSantis and endorsed Donald Trump in the presidential primary. Fine, who is Jewish, specifically criticized DeSantis for what he perceived as an inadequate response to antisemitism following the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. DeSantis has countered by accusing Fine of opposing key conservative policy initiatives, including Second Amendment rights protection and immigration enforcement proposals the governor had championed.
Governor DeSantis disses @VoteRandyFine hard. “He’s a squish. He repels people. The President had to come bail him out.”
He says voters in the district took one for the team to elect someone they didn’t like so that Trump would have the votes he needs. pic.twitter.com/s1uG43NhG3
— The Space Coast Rocket (@CoastRocket) April 2, 2025
Congressional Response and Trump’s Support
Despite the governor’s criticisms, Fine maintains focus on his congressional duties. In response to DeSantis’ public rebukes, Fine emphasized his commitment to working with President Trump on legislative priorities rather than engaging in the governor’s criticisms. Trump had endorsed Fine’s candidacy and congratulated him on his victory, despite significant financial opposition during the campaign. The congressman’s allies have expressed frustration with DeSantis’ comments, suggesting they may have suppressed Republican turnout in the special election.
A Republican operative quoted by Fox News went further, accusing DeSantis of actively undermining Trump’s agenda and candidates. “Ron DeSantis has made it his mission to try to blow up Trump and his agenda any way he can,” the operative stated, highlighting the broader tensions within the Republican Party as it navigates internal divisions. When approached for comment on these allegations, DeSantis’ office did not provide a response to Fox News inquiries on the matter.
Electoral Implications
The public dispute between DeSantis and Fine reflects the complex dynamics within the Republican Party as it seeks to present a unified front. Fine’s special election victory, while narrower than historical GOP performances in the district, still maintained Republican control of the seat. Political analysts suggest this internal conflict could either be dismissed as typical political infighting or potentially signal deeper fractures within Florida’s Republican establishment as loyalty to Trump remains a defining factor in GOP politics.
While DeSantis has highlighted Fine’s personal unpopularity as the reason for the closer-than-expected margin, Fine’s supporters point to the congressman’s successful navigation of a challenging political environment and his clear alignment with Trump as key factors in preserving the Republican seat. The ongoing tension between these two political figures may continue to influence Republican politics in Florida, one of the nation’s most critical electoral battlegrounds.