Social Media Influencer Dan Bilzerian Files to Challenge Rep. Randy Fine in GOP Primary

Dan Bilzerian, a Tampa-based social media influencer with nearly 30 million Instagram followers, officially opened a Federal Election Commission account Tuesday, launching a potential Republican primary challenge against U.S. Rep. Randy Fine. He immediately ignited controversy with a pair of antisemitic posts directed at the congressman on the same day he filed federal paperwork.

Fine, who is Jewish, won Florida's 6th Congressional District in a special election last year. The district covers portions of Brevard County and borders Indian River County to the north.

Bilzerian posted on X Tuesday: "We get it, you're a Jew, and you support America's destruction to help your parasitic nation. He has no place in our govt, and when I unseat him, I'm going to draft laws to have anyone putting Israel before America tried for treason." Days earlier, he called Fine a "fat jew Rep." and accused him of hypocrisy on religious speech protections. Fine, during his time in the Florida Legislature, sponsored antisemitism statutes that are now codified in state law.

The FEC filing indicates Bilzerian may self-fund his campaign. The address listed on his campaign paperwork is shared by a law firm that also represents Lake County Commissioner Anthony Sabatini, according to federal campaign records.

His campaign website, Bilzerianforcongress.com, went live Tuesday morning and then went dark by afternoon. A similar pattern played out with his personal website.

Bilzerian founded Ignite International Brands, a cannabis and vaping company, in 2018, and built a following by posting photographs of a high-profile lifestyle alongside figures including Andrew Tate. In 2014, he was banned from a Miami nightclub after kicking a woman in the face.

Despite running as a Republican, Bilzerian publicly called Tuesday for invoking the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump from office, departing sharply from the party's base. He also shared a statement attributed to Iran's new president on social media.

Bilzerian's campaign did not respond to requests for comment. Fine's office had not issued a formal response as of publication time.

Florida's 2026 primary elections are expected in August of that year. No primary date has been set.

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