Despite being outraised and outspent, Fine earned 56.7% of the vote, winning all six counties that comprise the 6th.
In 2023, Fine told the Palm Beach Post that the Governor’s Office had encouraged him to apply for the FAU President job.
Fine and Patronis were backed by President Donald Trump while Democrats rallied around candidates Josh Weil and Gay Valimont.
The governor called Fine a “squish” and blamed policies he supported for an underperformance in the special election.