‘Hateful’: Leaders from both parties slam far-right House candidate Dan Bilzerian’s antisemitic attacks

Bipartisan Outcry as Far-Right Challenger Dan Bilzerian Escalates Antisemitic Campaign Against Rep. Randy Fine

Tyunews.com – On Sunday evening, top congressional leaders from both parties joined forces to denounce a wave of antisemitic advertising and verbal assaults being hurled at Jewish Republican Rep. Randy Fine by his challenger in Florida’s 6th Congressional District, Dan Bilzerian. The influencer, podcaster, and businessman has intensified his already provocative rhetoric with a barrage of ads and on-air attacks aimed squarely at Fine, weaving in references to Adolf Hitler and long-standing antisemitic tropes.

Congressional Leaders Condemn the Campaign

House Speaker Mike Johnson took to X to issue a pointed rebuke, declaring that the ads deserve universal condemnation across the political spectrum.

“The vile attack ads against Congressman Randy Fine in Florida’s 6th District are disgusting and should be condemned by all political leaders on the Right and Left. Antisemitism and outward hatred of Jewish communities have no place in our politics or in America, and we will continue to call them out wherever they arise.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries echoed the condemnation, labeling Bilzerian’s effort a “hateful campaign” that is “blatantly antisemitic and shocks the conscience.” Republican Rep. Don Bacon and GOP Sen. Ted Cruz likewise voiced their disgust. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee went further, describing Bilzerian’s social-media output as “possibly the most disgusting political thread I’ve seen.”

Despite the unified backlash, Bilzerian has shown no sign of retreating; instead, he appears to be channeling the criticism into additional campaign momentum.

Fine’s Path to the Seat and His Own Controversies

Fine first claimed the district through a special election held last year, stepping in after then-Rep. Mike Waltz resigned his House seat to take the post of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Since taking office, however, Fine has drawn fire for remarks touching on Muslims and Palestinians.

In February, Fine wrote on X: “If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.” He later explained the remark was a reply to a post by Palestinian activist Nerdeen Kiswani, who had quipped, “Finally NYC is coming to Islam. Dogs definitely have a place in society, just not as indoor pets,” during a local debate over picking up pet waste in New York City. Fine followed up by noting that Kiswani leads a major mainstream Muslim organization that backed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, but he stopped short of issuing an apology.

In July of last year, Fine labeled Somali American Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar a “Muslim terrorist” after she described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “war criminal.”

Bilzerian’s Platform and the Broader Florida Landscape

According to his campaign website, Bilzerian advocates ending all foreign aid, including assistance to Israel, and promotes the antisemitic assertion that Jewish special-interest groups are steering the nation toward ruin. He is one of several far-right conservative candidates running in Florida who have taken critical stances toward Israel, alongside James Fishback’s gubernatorial bid and Jake Lang’s Senate race.

The question of American backing for Israel is also surfacing in other contests. In the Democratic primary for Florida’s 25th District, incumbent Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a vocal Israel supporter, is fending off a challenge from progressive Oliver Larkin, who has urged Washington to sever aid to the country.