Gov. Ron DeSantis and Randy Fine (Getty Images; Fox)
The governor also challenged media reports characterizing the close race as a reflection of President Donald Trump's agenda.
"I don't think that's true at all for this district," DeSantis said at the press conference. "I think you have a candidate in Randy Fine, who, one, he's a squish."
DeSantis added that Fine "repels" people, including his former colleagues in the state legislature. During the press conference Wednesday, the governor recounted how lawmakers in the state requested he nominate Fine to be the president of Florida Atlantic University so he would not have to serve in the legislature anymore.
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"I did, and the whole board [at Florida Atlantic] would have resigned rather than make him president," DeSantis said.
Trump endorsed Fine ahead of Tuesday's special election victory and congratulated him Tuesday evening in a post on Truth Social for defeating an opponent who had a "cash avalanche" behind him. (Getty Images; Fox News)
Allies of Fine have been unhappy about DeSantis' public criticisms of the representative-elect, who will now add another crucial vote to the GOP's narrow House majority that had dwindled as a result of several members going to work in the Trump administration.
"Ron and Casey DeSantis are disloyal and consistently put their agenda ahead of the president’s," a national Republican operative in Trump's orbit told Fox News Digital. "With the congressional majority on the line in their own backyard, Ron and Casey didn’t lift a finger to help President Trump’s endorsed candidates. Worse, Ron undermined President Trump, openly attacked his candidates leading up to the special election, which could have suppressed Republican turnout, and then crowed about it on Fox News.
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"DeSantis’ personal politics once again betrayed the Trump agenda and the MAGA movement."
Gov. DeSantis' office declined to provide comment for this article.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/desantis-blasts-newly-elected-florida-gop-congressman-continuing-history-attacks-hes-squish