Randy Fine

Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., defended Florida's new congressional map on Newsmax Wednesday after a judge's ruling that the state's redistricting plan can remain in place while legal challenges continue.

The ruling allows Florida to move forward with a map Republicans say better reflects the state's political makeup, while critics contend it unfairly favors the GOP ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Appearing on Newsmax's "Wake Up America Early," Fine said he was not surprised by the court's decision.

"No, I'm not surprised to see the maps be held up in court," Fine said. "What Florida did was eliminate racial gerrymandering in our maps."

Fine said previous congressional districts were drawn to favor Democratic candidates.

"We were required by law to gerrymander districts to make sure that one group of people, Black Americans who were of one party, the Democratic Party, could win seats," he said. "No other racial group, no other party was entitled to those same privileges."

Fine added that after courts ruled states could no longer engage in racial gerrymandering, Florida's maps were redrawn to be "more compact" and "more aligned geographically."

"And as a result, because Florida is an overwhelmingly Republican state, it appears that there now are seats that Republicans can win," he said.

The revised map could help Republicans gain as many as four additional House seats, making Florida a major battleground in the fight for control of Congress.

Fine also weighed in on redistricting battles in other states, including South Carolina and Alabama.

Regarding South Carolina Republicans' decision not to redraw congressional maps ahead of the election, Fine said, "That's a decision by Republican politicians to not have the president's back."

"They should learn based on recent election results in Indiana and Texas and Kentucky and in other places, what happens when you don't support the president," he said.

Discussing Alabama, where a federal court blocked a Republican-backed congressional map, Fine predicted the decision would not stand.

"I suspect a higher court will overturn that lower court ruling," he said.

Looking ahead to the midterm elections, Fine expressed confidence in Republicans' chances.

"I think if we continue to do what we've been doing, govern this country effectively, we bring in the Iran conflict for a landing, and Democrats continue to nominate lunatics like they have with their candidate in Texas who says there are six genders, I think we're well positioned to win in November," Fine said.

"They are crazy. We are not. And that's frankly the message that we should be telling everyone as we get ready for the November election."

Fine also addressed President Donald Trump's push for Congress to deliver a reconciliation bill by June 1, saying lawmakers are unlikely to meet that deadline because Congress remains in recess.

Fine said he does not expect Congress to meet the June 1 deadline because lawmakers are out of Washington this week.

He said the House is prepared to act once lawmakers return.

"We have to fund ICE. We have to fund Customs and Border Protection," Fine said. "Unfortunately, as the Senate seems to do all the time, they decided not to get their job done before they went home for recess. The House was ready to go, and we will be ready to go when we get back."

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