Florida — 6th District

Dan Bilzerian says he will soon join a long line of other challengers to U.S. Rep. Randy Fine, who have thoughts.

Property records show Bilzerian, a social-media influencer and entrepreneur, lives in Las Vegas and will have to move back to Florida, where he was born and raised, in order to represent Florida's 6th Congressional District.

In the meantime, there are a number of Republicans and Democrats who have already been knocking on doors, raising money and vying for attention in a primary race that is more than three months away.

Randy Fine is Jewish. Dan Bilzerian has attacked Jews and Israel

Aaron Baker, a Republican, also ran in the 2025 special election that delivered Fine to Washington.

He made reference to one of the chief criticisms of Bilzerian's rhetoric, that it's antisemitic. Bilzerian has referred to Fine as a "fat jew," with the j lowercased. He has lent credence to unproven conspiracy theories that Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad, was behind the Kennedy assassination and Jeffrey Epstein's island. And he told interviewer Piers Morgan the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israeli citizens were "not nearly as bad as they say."

"I believe he is in this race because I do not go after the Jewish religion," Baker said. "I will speak out against the government of Israel. However, I value the principles this country was founded on — one of those being freedom of religion."

Baker, a contractor from Sorrento in Lake County, said he welcomes Bilzerian to the race, but believes his "reach may be too narrow" to win.

"I would rather build a coalition of people to take back our country from foreign influence than work to divide us," Baker said.

Candidates say voters want ties to 6th District

Other candidates questioned Bilzerian's commitment to a district currently comprised of Flagler and Putnam counties, plus parts of Volusia, St. Johns, Lake and Marion,

"People are tired of being represented by folks with no real ties to this part of Florida," said Eric Yonce, a Democrat from Ormond Beach. "Tired of being used to move someone else's career forward instead of having someone who shows up and does the work for them."

Yonce said the 6th District "is not a backdrop for a publicity stunt," nor is it "entertainment," or a "branding exercise. It's a responsibility."

Republican Charles Gambaro, a Palm Coast city councilman, decried Bilzerian — an outsider — showing interest in the district.

"We are going to have another candidate who doesn't live in the district, doesn't know the people, and has had serious legal issues, including abusing women and bomb making!" Gambaro said. "I am the only candidate that has lived in the district since 2006 with three decades of public service including leading and serving in multiple combat tours, not playing a soldier in a movie I had to pay to be in," Gambaro said.

Gambaro was referring to Bilzerian's role in the 2013 Peter Berg-directed "Lone Survivor," starring Mark Wahlberg. The Hollywood Reporter reported Bilzerian sued the producers, claiming he loaned the production $1 million in exchange for a role as Healy, who had less than 1 minute of screen time. Bilzerian's suit claimed he was guaranteed at least 8 minutes of screen time. The lawsuit was later dropped.

Another Democrat, Ronnie Murchinson-Rivera of Sorrento, said his campaign has collected all the necessary signatures to qualify for the ballot, making his "the first (Congressional) campaign in the entire state, Democrat, Republican or indpendent" to accomplish that feat.

"People here are tired of representatives and candidates who don’t actually live in or have real roots in this district trying to come in and represent them," Murchinson-Rivera said. "Folks want someone who’s here, who understands what’s going on day to day, and who’s been out in the streets, fighting and standing alongside them."

Jenkins blames Fine for 'a race to the bottom'

Another Democrat whose residence, Satellite Beach, is some 90 minutes from the 6th District, Jennifer Jenkins, said Bilzerian's interest in the 6th District says more about Fine than it does about the playboy entrepreneur.

"When your brand of leadership is chaos, outrage, and constant attention seeking, don't be surprised when you attract more of the same," Jenkins said. "Randy has turned this seat into a race to the bottom."

Jenkins said voters deserve more.

"They deserve serious leadership focused on affordability, stability, and actually getting things done. That's the race I'm running."

Fine and Democrat Rob Cooper II didn't respond to a requests for comment.