Social media influencer Dan Bilzerian has declared his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida’s 6th congressional district. He’s running against incumbent Congressman Randy Fine in the Republican primary.
Bilzerian is a veteran of the U.S. Navy who gained prominence documenting his lifestyle on social media. His Instagram account has 29.6 million followers as of Friday morning. The 45-year-old has been outspoken about politics for years, but has never held political office.
With the entrance of Bilzerian into the Republican primary, GOP voters in Florida’s 6th congressional district now have four choices. Fine, Bilzerian, Palm Coast City Councilman Charles Gambaro, and returning 2025 candidate Aaron Baker. Four Democrats are running as well: Jennifer Jenkins, Ronnie Murchinson-Rivera, James Stockton, and Eric Yonce.
Bilzerian’s Alleged Bigotry
In the days since Dan Bilzerian began his bid for Congress, he’s immediately faced controversy over allegedly anti-Semitic remarks about Fine. “This fat jew [Randy Fine] publicly talks shit about Muslims but says he’s passed laws to throw people in prison for 5 years for criticizing jews,” Bilzerian tweeted in March.
In a response on TMZ, Fine accused Bilzerian of weaponizing his religious faith as a slur. He also criticized a prior Bilzerian TMZ interview in which the candidate allegedly said the N-word (TMZ bleeped the audio so direct confirmation is impossible).
“It’s my view that anyone who can use that word so easily, probably uses it in their everyday language and that’s not a word that I believe has any place in the Republican party and I’m not interested in platforming it,” Fine said.
Punching Back at Fine
One counter Dan Bilzerian has repeatedly offered to criticisms of his speech are his own critiques against Fine’s rhetoric against Muslims. The congressman has said he’s ‘not afraid’ of being labeled as Islamophobic. In February he tweeted, “If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one”.
“We get it, you’re a jew and you support America’s destruction to help your parasitic nation,” Bilzerian tweeted at Fine on Tuesday. It was a response to Fine’s “Bombs away” comment supporting American military attacks against Iran. Bilzerian is a vocal critic of the Iran war, and has called for President Donald Trump to be removed under the 25th Amendment for being unfit to serve.
Chris Gollon is a Flagler County resident since 2004, as well as a staple of the local independent music scene and avid observer of Central Florida politics, arts, and recreation.
