Aaron Baker wants Dan Bilzerian to switch districts, but the ‘King of Instagram’ has sights set on Randy Fine

Aaron Baker filed to challenge U.S. Rep. Randy Fine in a GOP Primary before Dan Bilzerian entered the race. Now, Baker would like to see the prominent social media influencer try a different contest.

Baker is encouraging Bilzerian, a Tampa native, to run for an open seat in Florida’s 16th Congressional District.

“First, there is no incumbent. Second, it’s closer to where he grew up. Third, it’s a slightly younger demographic,” Baker told Florida Politics. “If he wants to connect with younger voters, the focus should be where the younger voters are.”

But Bilzerian said he’s in the race for Florida’s Congressional 6th District for one purpose, and that’s unseating a specific incumbent.

“I understand he wants me to run in 16, and I’d probably have an easier time winning in 16. But for me, this isn’t really about winning a seat,” Bilzerian told Florida Politics. “It’s about unseating Randy Fine. I think that needs to be done. And I just don’t think that Aaron’s raised enough money to do it.”

Baker through the end of 2025 raised just under $76,000 for the race. He expects to report next week that the campaign raised some $24,000 in the first quarter of this year as well.

By comparison, Fine closed the year with more than $636,000 in cash on hand.

While Bilzerian just entered the race and won’t be required to post fundraising reports until after June, he also has an ability to self-fund a campaign. He said he personally would put $1 million toward a congressional run.

Baker named several reasons he should carry the anti-Fine banner in the GOP Primary. For one, he’s been challenging Fine since the Atlantic Coast Republican ran in a Special Election for the seat last year.

“I have volunteers setting up in Bunnell tomorrow. I’ll be at an RLC (Republican Liberty Caucus) event,” he said. “Tonight, I’ll be in Ormond Beach.”

He lives in CD 6, something neither Bilzerian nor Fine can claim. In fact, Bilzerian must move from Las Vegas to Florida to qualify for the seat.

Notably, there are other Republicans also filed against Fine, including Charles Gambaro, who raised almost $320,000 last year.

But Baker and Bilzerian are competing for the same lane, focusing largely on Fine’s unwavering support of Israel, including its continued hostilities with Iran, and challenging whether the incumbent feels more loyalty to a foreign nation rather than an America First platform.

Of course, running in CD 16 would bring its own challenges. U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, a Longboat Republican, is retiring. But Sydney Gruters, wife of Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters, has already filed for the seat, as have several other Republicans. Like Fine, Gruters has President Donald Trump’s endorsement.

Of course, Bilzerian isn’t seeking out Trump voters. While Bilzerian supported the President’s last campaign, he has soured on the current GOP leader over his deference to Israel on military matters in the Middle East.

“He’s a total disaster,” Bilzerian said of Trump. “He’s sold out our country. He’s lied to us so many times. Yeah, he is an absolute disaster. And judging by his tweets and his actions, I don’t think that he’s all there.”