Representative Randy Fine, a Florida Republican elected in a special election in April 2025, faced immediate backlash from Armenian American advocacy groups following remarks made on a radio program in which he targeted Armenians as a group. The comments came during a discussion about Dan Bilzerian, a social media personality and professional poker player running as a Republican primary challenger against Fine in Florida's 6th Congressional District.
During the broadcast, Fine criticized Bilzerian, who is of Armenian descent and an Armenian citizen, over antisemitic statements. Fine then extended his criticism to Armenians broadly, stating that the group consists of "hate-filled lunatics and losers" who should not serve in Congress. The remarks sparked immediate condemnation from the Armenian National Committee of America, the largest Armenian American advocacy organization in the country, which called the comments a "racist anti-Armenian rant."
ANCA leadership issued statements condemning Fine's remarks and linking them to his legislative record. The organization noted that Fine is a cosponsor of a Congressional resolution to provide military aid to Azerbaijan, a country that Armenia has accused of ethnic cleansing. ANCA Executive Director Raffi Hamparian said Fine's "racist rant targeting Armenians comes as no surprise" given his support for arming Azerbaijan. The organization's Advocacy Director Gev Iskajyan characterized the comments as "blatant bigotry" and called them "disqualifying" for elected office.
Fine, 51, was first elected to Congress in the special election and currently serves on the House Foreign Affairs and Education and Workforce Committees. He is a former Florida state legislator who previously served in the Florida House for eight years before moving to the Florida Senate. Fine was endorsed by President Donald Trump in October, with Trump calling him a "MAGA Warrior" on Truth Social. According to Fine's campaign, Trump has endorsed him three times in the past two years.
Bilzerian, 45, of Las Vegas, is a former Navy officer turned professional poker player and social media personality. His campaign platform includes proposals widely flagged by the Anti-Defamation League as containing antisemitic conspiracy theories, including language about "Jewish Supremacy" and claims that the United States is being "run into the ground by Jewish Special Interests." The ADL has identified such framing as antisemitic conspiracy rhetoric.
The dispute drew comment from former Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who posted on social media that Fine's criticism of Armenians was directly tied to the primary race. Greene noted that Armenia is 94 percent Christian and adopted Christianity as its state religion in 301 AD.
The Republican primary election is scheduled for August 18. The race features Fine and Bilzerian alongside other Republican candidates Charles Gambaro and Aaron Baker, as well as four Democratic candidates. Fine enters the primary with Trump's endorsement and GOP institutional support, while Bilzerian is positioning himself as an outsider candidate.
