With the backing of President-elect Donald Trump, state Sen. Randy Fine said Tuesday he will run for a congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz.
Fine’s announcement Tuesday came weeks after the Brevard County lawmaker was elected to the Florida Senate. Fine said he will step down from the Senate in March, about midway through the 2025 legislative session.
“I believe that when President Trump was saved in Butler, he was saved so that he could save the world,” Fine said during an appearance Tuesday morning on FOX News, referring to an assassination attempt on the then-presidential candidate in July. “And when he said he thought I could help him, I knew I didn’t have a choice.”
Waltz this week submitted his resignation from Congressional District 6 after being nominated by Trump as national security advisor. The Republican-leaning district is made up of all or parts of Flagler, Lake, Marion, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia Counties.
Fine, whose latest financial disclosure report showed a net worth of $30.3 million, was an early Trump supporter in the GOP presidential primary and has unabashedly signaled his allegiance to Trump on social media.
Trump “needs fighters who will Make America Wealthy Again, Make American Safe Again, and someone who will stand up for Israel. That is why today I’m announcing my candidacy,” Fine posted on X after announcing his candidacy Tuesday.
The only Jewish Republican legislator in Florida, Fine often has taken an openly combative approach to political opponents, an image he has embraced publicly. “Unafraid to say what needs to be said,” Fine’s X profile boasts.
A former casino executive, Fine was first elected to the Florida House in 2016 and served until his move to the Senate this year.
Fine’s resignation letter Tuesday to Gov. Ron DeSantis and Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, said the senator’s last day in the Legislature would be March 31, allowing him to serve nearly half of the 60-day regular legislative session that begins March 4.
Fine replaced state Rep. Debbie Mayfield, R-Melbourne, a former state representative who left the Senate due to term limits and was reelected to the Florida House on Nov. 5.
Sarasota Republican Sen. Joe Gruters, who has Trump’s backing to run for chief financial officer in 2026, posted on X that Mayfield would “be great back in the Senate.”
Mayfield thanked Gruters for the support but did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Waltz’s resignation is set to go into effect Jan. 20, the day of Trump’s inauguration.
A special primary election for Waltz’s seat will take place on Jan. 28 and a special general election is set for April 1. The same special election dates are set for a Northwest Florida congressional seat vacated by former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz.
Apart from Fine, other people who’ve expressed interest replacing Waltz include former Marion County School Board member Don Browning, Air Force veteran Steve Rance, former Flagler County Commissioner Joe Mullins and Ernest Audino, Waltz’ district director. Jacksonville City Councilor Rory Diamond and Lake County Commissioner Anthony Sabatini, a former state House representative, also have said they are interested in the race.
The qualifying period for candidates to file paperwork for the race begins at 8 a.m. on Dec. 6 and runs through noon on Dec. 7.
Fine, who currently does not live in the congressional district, said during Tuesday’s FOX News appearance that his resume in the Legislature should set him apart from the field.
“I’ve got an eight year track record in Florida fighting on the issues that matter most,” Fine said. “Whether it was running the largest school choice expansion in the history of the state, or banning transgender mutilation surgeries for children when the tip of the spear needed a warrior, that’s what I did.”
Fine also said Republicans don’t have a big window to “literally save this country.”
“Midterms will be before you know it,” Fine said. “So we have to prove to the American people that that mandate was worth it. We need to row the boat in the same direction, and I will be rowing as hard as I can to make that happen.”
Fine backed Trump over Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Republican presidential primary and Trump reciprocated in February by endorsing Fine’s bid for the state Senate.
“Should (Fine) decide to enter this race, Randy Fine as my complete and total endorsement. Run, Randy, Run!” Trump posted on Truth social over the weekend.
Fine, one of the Legislature’s most-fierce debaters, responded to the president-elect’s endorsement on social media.
“Clearly Mom wasted no time once she made it upstairs,” Fine, whose mother recently died, posted on X. “Mr. President, G-d saved you on that day in Butler so that you could save the world. It would be the honor of my life to be one of your footsoldiers. Your confidence is overwhelming and I will have news to share soon!”
–Jim Turner, News Service of Florida
RWBoggess says
So, it is okay to move from one District to another for the sole purpose of running for an open office in the destination district with NO residence time requirement? Sure, doesn’t sound very democratic!! Sounds more like buying an office.
John Calvin says
He does sound like a jagoff
Deborah Coffey says
OMG. Only a miracle will save America from these HEATHENS!
Nephew Of Uncle Sam says
What a sad joke on the people of the 6th District, doesn’t live in the district yet that’s okay by the GOP.
Pogo says
@Very informative
The 4th grade in school, candid photo, is a nice touch — must be from the Harkonnen family album.
https://www.google.com/search?q=harkonnen+meaning
Fine is made to order for the majority of the suffering sixth.
starryid says
The fact that the majority of American Voters vehemently disagree with your views must be very disturbing to you! It’s obvious that you suffer from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.
Kat says
That’s exactly what the Republican party has done all over Florida. It just happened to us in our state house race, they moved somebody into the district who handily defeated a local, Adam Morley, who actually would have represented the interest of the citizens.
Republicans don’t even try to pretend anymore that they care about the citizens. They are about lining their pockets as much as they can for as long as they can and the people, animals, and environment can go to hell for all they care.
As stated in the article, the midterms are coming. But I’ve lived here for over 20 years, and I see people voting against their own interests all the time. And then they complain and blame it on Democrats, even though this state is almost completely locked down by Republicans. Republicans who, by the way, take credit for Democratic initiatives that bring funds to our area even when they voted against those bills.
joe says
I live in the 6th District – and I thought Walz was a Trump ass-kisser! This guy takes the cake.
Willy James says
I thought Joe Mullins was the man who had this in the bag!
RWBoggess says
Interesting point. The party in power – in Florida that is the Republican party – cannot blame the minority party. The party in power has no choice to take blame. In Florida they are responsible for the high insurance rates! They’ve been in power at the State level for the past – what – 8-10 years – and they haven’t done a damn thing about insurance rates or bringing it under control. Just finding ways to make it easier for the insurance companies to deny claims, drop policies, and make changes to policies without clear notice to the policy holders, like separating roof damage; separating screen porch damage even if the screen porch is attached to the house, etc. from general policy coverages and deductibles! The insurance problems, flooding problems, the lack of capital improvements or maintaining existing critical services such as water, sewer, etc. lands flatly on the Republicans that control the Florida House, the Florida Senate, and yes, the Palm Coast City Council.
Nancy N. says
The only qualification that GOP cares about is that the candidate properly heils to dear leader. Being a traitor, being a rapist or child molester…that’s irrelevant noise to them.
Nancy N. says
And I thought the GOP couldn’t possibly dig up a worse candidate than Mullins. So i guess we’re both wrong.
exasperated says
Republicans have controlled Florida for 25 years.
Nephew Of Uncle Sam says
Majority? Didn’t even break 50%.
Sherry says
@starryid. . . Yawn! TDS! TDS! TDS!
That is now the Fox mindless maga mantra for each and every “FACT” pointing out the numerous “FACTUAL” reasons “Convicted Felon” “Sexual Assaulter” “Twice Impeached” trump should be in jail instead of the white house. It’s not that trump has done anything wrong, ever. . . it’s just that millions upon millions of people “hate” him for no reason except they are all crazy, RIGHT, starryid? Are you OK, man?
RWBoggess says
Thanks for the correction…