Representative Randy Fine, a Republican from Florida, stated on Wednesday that a recent campaign poll conducted in his congressional district found concern about what he called the “Islamification” of America ranked ahead of issues such as abortion, healthcare, and the conflict with Iran. The findings reflect what Fine described as voters’ fears about preserving the nation’s values.
Fine explained that he insisted his pollster include a question about “radical Islam” despite initial resistance from the polling organization.
“Typically, when people are running for office, you ask a poll about the No. 1 issue people are facing,” Fine said.
“There’s usually the standard 12 things: inflation, healthcare, abortion, Second Amendment. I said, ‘I want you to put radical Islam in.'”
According to Fine, his pollster argued that “no one will care,” but he maintained the results proved otherwise.
“I insisted, and I’m paying for it, so I get to decide,” Fine added. “To their surprise, not mine, seven times as many people said they were worried about radical Islam than many, many other issues that are typically bread-and-butter issues.”
Fine asserted that voters are concerned because they see “values coming to the United States that are different than the values that this country was built upon.”
“As we celebrate our 250th anniversary, we cannot allow that to take hold in our country,” he said.
Fine also promoted his proposed No Sharia Act, stating federal legislation would be necessary to apply to U.S. courts and government institutions—despite states including Florida having enacted laws restricting certain foreign legal codes in court proceedings.
“My bill would say, ‘No, if you want to practice your religion in peace and prosperity on your own, that’s fine; but you can’t force it on other people,'” he explained.
“And that’s the purpose of Shariah law, to make those who do not want to believe in Shariah adhere.”
Fine added that his legislation “would absolutely affect blue states” if enacted. When asked whether he believes the measure could pass Congress, Fine said he is uncertain but pledged to continue pushing for it.
“Will we be able to get it passed? I don’t know,” he said. “But I’m not going to stop fighting until we do that.”
