Florida’s Rep. Randy Fine has a blunt prescription for a House Republican conference staring down a steep Democratic majority in January: stop worrying about compromise, hand the minority gavel to Rep. Jim Jordan and start fighting, suggesting Democrats will likely pursue political persecution as the main focus in the next Congress.

In a wide-ranging interview with Digital, Fine, who expanded his own victory margin to 19 points even as Republicans lost control of the chamber, argued that voters punished the GOP not for its policies, but because they didn’t see lawmakers willing to go to the mat for them.

For Fine, the message sent by Jordan’s election is unambiguous.

«Well, it says to me that we’re ready to fight back. I mean, Jim Jordan has two unique qualifications for the job,» Fine said. 

‘HE BLAMED THE JEWS’: GOP CONGRESSMAN LEVELS EXPLOSIVE ACCUSATION AGAINST JD VANCE OVER ELECTION POSTMORTEM

«One, he’s our best fighter. He protected and fought for President Trump during the ridiculous impeachments of President Trump’s first term. He’s just somebody who knows how to go into the arena and fight back. 

«But the second thing is he’s an extraordinary communicator. And over the next two years, we are in a very diminished minority. That’s going to be our greatest strength is to point out why the Democratic policies won’t actually improve anyone’s lives, and to point out the policies that we would propose that will. 

«So, as a fighter and a communicator, I think he’s very well positioned to lead us for the next two years.»

Fine downplayed policy as the primary driver of the disastrous 2026 blue tsunami.

«I don’t know that we need to change our policies. And I don’t even know how much of our messaging we need to change,» he said. «What we need to do is we need to fight. I believe that we lost the election because voters thought we didn’t care about their problems, because they didn’t see us fighting to solve them. 

«Voters will vote for you if they see you fighting, even if you fail. But they won’t vote for you if they don’t see you fighting. Now, I’m a guy who defied the odds. I increased my margin in the election. I may be the only Republican in the country to do that. I won my last election by 14. I won this one by 19.»

With House Republicans shifting from passing bills to playing defense after electing Rep. Jim Jordan to succeed outgoing Speaker Mike Johnson as minority leader, Fine drew a sharp line between the two leadership roles.

«Well, it’s a very different job. Look, I think if we kept the majority, I think Mike Johnson would still be the speaker. The speaker’s job and the minority leader’s job are completely different. So, Mike Johnson’s job for the next 50-plus days is to try to get as many good things passed through the House as he can. 

FLORIDA CONGRESSMAN DIAGNOSES GOP’S BLUE TSUNAMI LOSSES: ‘WE FAILED TO MAKE THEM THINK WE CARED ABOUT THEM’

«Jim Jordan’s not going to be able to pass anything. The Democrats could have a 90- to 100-vote majority. His job is going to be to fight back when they’re impeaching and they’re interrogating and they are being vindictive, but also again to communicate why their policies will not make people’s lives better. 

«They’re going to come out and say Medicare-for-all. We’re going to have to say, ‘No, no there’s no such thing. It’s going to be Medicaid-for-all. When you give it to everyone, everyone will suffer. We’ll end up like Canada, where there are death panels, or the UK, where you can wait a year or two to get to a doctor.’

«That’s what we’re going to have to do: fight back and communicate. That’s a very different job than what Mike Johnson had to do the last two years.»

Gridlock may be the persistent feature of the next Congress, but Fine does not completely discard the potential for compromise.

«Well, first off, compromise isn’t inevitable,» he said. «We may not do very much for the next two years. And I think that’s the most likely outcome. Democrats pass ridiculous things, President Trump vetoes them and then we uphold the veto in the House and the Senate. I think that’s the most likely outcome for the next two years. 

«If it relates to compromise, you have to see what we’re offered. So, for example, if Democrats would agree to voter ID, which is a huge thing the American people want, they might be able to extract a concession from us. If they’re willing to stop so much of the ridiculous immigration into this country, they might be able to get concessions from us on other things. So, the problem is this: To Democrats, compromise means we give them what they want. It’s always a one-way street. 

«It’s funny, when Democrats win, they say elections have consequences. When we win, they say we need to be bipartisan. And that’s how their viewpoint is. They never come to our side of the world. So, I’ll see if they want to compromise. I’ll be open to it. But it will truly require us getting some of the things that we want that they have fought us on for the time I’ve been in Congress.»

On foreign policy objectives, Fine points to several Democrats he’s prepared to work with, while clarifying his position on Israel.

«Sure. I mean, look, in the Senate, you’ve got John Fetterman, who I think is an incredibly strong advocate for Western civilization. I don’t think it’s fair to say I’m an advocate for Israel. That makes it sound like I’m just an advocate for a country. It’s more than that. 

«The United States and Israel are the only two countries in the world that are unambiguously standing up to Muslim terror, which seeks to fundamentally redefine life for all of us around the world. 

«So, I’m on the side of Western civilization, and John Fetterman embodies that in the Senate. I think you’ve got guys like Jared Moskowitz and Josh Gottheimer on the House side, on the Democratic side, who do as well. … Unfortunately, I think they’re pretty outnumbered at this point, but if they want to fight with me, I’m happy to fight alongside them.»

Finally, Fine contends that the Democrats face a clear dichotomy in how they want to proceed to govern, but argues they will likely make the wrong choice:

«The American people elected Democrats not because they wanted investigations and persecution. They elected Democrats because they didn’t think we were solving their problems. If they make the mistake of going down the vengeance and persecution path, they’ll end up in two years just the same way we did. If they try to solve the problems of the American people, they’ll do well. 

«The problem is their ideas don’t work. Remember, the Affordable Care Act didn’t make health care affordable. But if they try to do things that will help the American people, at least they’ll be listening to them. But that’s the choice they have to make. Persecution or policy. I think they’re going to choose persecution, but we’ll find out in a couple of months.»

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El Ejército de Guatemala instaló 13 puestos de control en Zacapa tras el ataque armado del viernes 13 de noviembre en el caserío El Tocino, donde fueron asesinadas cinco personas y un hombre fue secuestrado. El despliegue responde a una sucesión de hechos violentos que dejó al menos 17 víctimas mortales de alto impacto en menos de dos meses, entre civiles, un diputado y agentes de seguridad.

La operación forma parte del Plan Soberanía e Independencia y quedó bajo responsabilidad de unidades de las brigadas terrestres. La institución castrense contempla trasladar efectivos de otras zonas del país si la situación lo requiere.

Uno de los controles funciona en el kilómetro 106 de la ruta CA-9, en el puente Huyus, dentro del municipio de Usumatlán. Desde ese punto, los militares realizan patrullajes motorizados hacia Los Amates, en Izabal, por Mayuelas y Gualán, y también hasta el ingreso a La Unión.

Las tropas tienen como objetivo vigilar a las familias, transportistas, comerciantes y visitantes que circulan por esos corredores. El Ejército indicó que sus acciones se desarrollan en coordinación con otras instituciones y con apego a la Constitución y las leyes guatemaltecas.

Cinco asesinatos y un secuestro en El Tocino

El ataque que aceleró el refuerzo militar ocurrió alrededor de la 1:10 de la madrugada en El Tocino, una comunidad de la aldea La Majada, en el municipio de Zacapa. Un grupo armado llegó al sector en unas diez camionetas agrícolas, con hombres vestidos con uniformes camuflados, cascos y pasamontañas.

Una testigo relató que los atacantes preguntaron a gritos por su esposo. Poco después lo localizaron y se lo llevaron con rumbo desconocido.

El Ministerio Público confirmó cinco homicidios y la desaparición de Keneth Estuard Pacheco Perdomo, de 35 años, quien habría sido secuestrado durante la incursión. La fiscalía no había confirmado detenciones ni establecido plazos para las diligencias, y pidió a la población aportar información mediante los canales institucionales.

La patrulla ZAC-095 de la Policía Nacional Civil recibió ocho disparos cuando llegó al lugar. Los proyectiles impactaron en una puerta, el parabrisas y el capó del vehículo policial, sin dejar agentes heridos.

Dentro de un vehículo tipo panel gris, con placas P-906BCG, fueron hallados dos hombres de entre 30 y 35 años y una mujer de unos 25. El automotor presentaba impactos de bala en el parabrisas, las ventanas y las puertas.

Una de las víctimas fue identificada preliminarmente como Diego Andrés Fajardo Ávalos, de 30 años, quien tenía cuatro heridas de bala visibles. Tres mujeres resultaron heridas por proyectiles de arma de fuego y fueron trasladadas a un centro asistencial.

El Ministerio Público amplió el perímetro pericial hacia distintos sectores de la comunidad porque los indicios balísticos y los vehículos dañados estaban dispersos. Cerca de un río hallaron una motocicleta abandonada y recolectaron nuevos rastros balísticos.

El calibre de las armas empleadas aún no fue confirmado. Por esa razón, el posible uso de fusiles de alto poder no ha sido establecido oficialmente.

La cadena de ataques desde septiembre

La violencia reciente en el departamento también incluyó el asesinato del diputado Julio César Portillo Paz, de 35 años y representante de Zacapa. El legislador fue atacado de forma directa el 6 de noviembre en el kilómetro 137 de la ruta al Atlántico, en Río Hondo, y murió al día siguiente en el Hospital Regional de Zacapa.

Portillo Paz, conocido como cantante y predicador con el nombre artístico “El Poeta del Cielo”, recibió varios disparos en la cabeza y el tórax. En el mismo ataque murieron los tres agentes de la Policía Nacional Civil que integraban su esquema de seguridad: Fernando Antonio Reyes Aldana, Érick Armides Ramos Osorio y Jorge Paau Xicol.

El 27 de septiembre, un ataque durante un evento deportivo en Huité dejó ocho muertos. La fiscalía procesó cuatro escenas del crimen y reunió 77 indicios balísticos.

La investigación por ese hecho incluye señalamientos sobre una posible participación de personal del Ejército. El expediente pasó al Juzgado de Mayor Riesgo A, a cargo de la jueza Claudette Domínguez, y se mantiene bajo reserva judicial.

El Ministerio de la Defensa Nacional reconoció que militares realizaron disparos disuasivos después de escuchar detonaciones en el área del ataque en Huité. La cartera sostuvo, sin embargo, que sus efectivos no participaron directamente en los asesinatos.

El Gobierno guatemalteco evalúa decretar un estado de excepción en Zacapa. Mientras tanto, los puestos militares permanecen activos durante el día y la noche en los corredores de la CA-9 y los municipios de la región.

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The architect of California’s Democratic-friendly redistricting plan, which helped the party flip five Republican-held House seats in November’s midterm elections, is now calling on Democrats to put an end to partisan gerrymandering nationwide.

Paul Mitchell claimed in a San Francisco Chronicle op-ed published Wednesday that lawmakers should «kill partisan gerrymandering for good.» 

He made the comments after California voters approved Proposition 50 in November 2025, temporarily replacing the state’s independently drawn congressional districts with a Democratic-friendly map for elections through 2030.

REDISTRICTING EFFORTS BLOW UP IN REPUBLICANS’ FACES AMID HISTORIC HOUSE LOSSES

Mitchell acknowledged in his op-ed that Proposition 50 was designed to benefit Democrats but defended it as a temporary response to Republican-led redistricting efforts before calling for an end to partisan map making altogether.

«I wasn’t trying to do this [op-ed] to time with anyone’s efforts to do further gerrymandering,» Mitchell told Digital Thursday evening. 

«I always planned on doing this as soon as the election was over, and I even did a CNN interview with Elex Michaelson during the election coverage, where I said that the answer needs to be to stop this redistricting war and actually fix the problem.

«Prop 50 was the right response to what Republicans in Texas were doing, but recall that when Texas started doing this, our approach wasn’t to just start redistricting ourselves. We did a lot of work trying to get Texas to not start the redistricting wars,» Mitchell told Digital. 

«If then someone had said, «Congress will be banning mid-decade redistricting,» we would have been all for it. And I supported the legislation by Zoe Lofgren that would have [set up] national redistricting standards.»

Mitchell argued that Republicans’ midterm losses could make them more receptive to redistricting reform after years of opposing it.

«What makes now really important is that Republicans, who have opposed redistricting reform, should now realize that they lost in this war, so getting out of future wars is something maybe they would take more seriously now,» he told Digital.

As for California, Mitchell believes the Proposition 50 maps will remain in place through 2030 and said the focus should be on restoring a fairer redistricting process in 2031.

He called for Congress to prohibit mid-decade redistricting but argued that such a restriction alone would not prevent partisan gerrymandering when states redraw their maps after each census.

«I think the best solution would be independent commissions in every state,» he said.

The California Democratic Party touted Prop 50 as a «direct response to a Republican power grab orchestrated by President [Donald] Trump and state leaders in Texas, who redrew congressional district lines to gain five more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.»

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom similarly claimed in a Nov. 4, 2025 social media post that Prop 50 «is about standing up to bullies like Donald Trump.»

Mitchell’s recent op-ed also claims that gerrymandering can erode voters’ ability «to elect the candidates they prefer.»

Democrats notably succeeded in flipping all five House seats in California targeted by the party’s redistricting push in the November midterm elections, the AP reported Nov. 4.

BLOCKBUSTER SUPREME COURT VOTING RIGHTS RULING IGNITES REDISTRICTING WAR ACROSS SOUTHERN STATES

«The incoming Congress should make national redistricting a priority, establishing minimum standards for how all states draw their districts,» Mitchell wrote in the opinion piece.

Mitchell serves as the vice president of Political Data Inc., a California-based bipartisan voter data firm. He is also the owner of Redistricting Partners, a Sacramento-based data consulting firm.

Mitchell, across his career, has conducted more than 100 redistrictings for states, cities, school boards and community college districts, including the State of New York Independent Redistricting Commission, the Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Commission and the Long Beach Independent Redistricting Commission, according to Redistricting Partners’ website.

When asked about whether California’s gerrymandered maps were necessary during a Nov. 8 interview on «California Politics 360,» Mitchell said it would have been «a huge mistake» for Democrats to «sit» on their «laurels.»

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After Democrats’ sweeping victories in November’s midterm elections, some states have floated redrawing their congressional maps ahead of the 2028 election cycle, Roll Call reported Nov. 9.

Outgoing Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said Nov. 4 he would not call a special legislative session to redraw congressional maps or limit the powers of the incoming governor before his term ends in January 2027, WABE reported.

«As long as I’m governor, we will always respect the results of secure, accessible and fair elections and also abide by the laws and constitution of our state,» Kemp said in a statement.

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