- February 20, 2026
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood has rescinded his endorsement of U.S. Rep. Randy Fine over Fine’s recent controversial comments about Muslims on social media.
Starting on Feb. 15, Fine — a Republican who was endorsed by Pres. Donald Trump in 2024 to represent the Flagler, Volusia, Lake, Marion, Putnam and St. Johns Counties in Congress — made several posts on the social media platform X about Muslims.
“If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one," Fine wrote.
Fine was referring to a DailyMail news article where an Muslim activist made comments saying dogs should be banned as indoor pets. Since Sunday, Fine has faced backlash for his comments but has doubled down.
Chitwood posted on his personal Facebook page on Feb. 19 that he could no longer support or endorse Fine’s campaign to speak for them in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Rep. Fine’s statements that have come to my attention recently just don’t align with my responsibility to stand up and protect the entire community,” Chitwood wrote.
As Sheriff of Volusia County, Chitwood said his responsibility is to protect everyone.
“I realize now that the Congressman’s passionate rhetoric has crossed lines in the past,” Chitwood wrote. “Beyond his latest controversy, I cannot endorse wishing for kids in Gaza to starve, or for Muslim American citizens to be expelled from the U.S.”
In his post, Chitwood said he had in the past worked well together with Fine. Chitwood endorsed Fine in his first run for Congress and had again endorsed him for his reelection campaign.
“I gave him my support again this year because I appreciated how he fought for our community and for law enforcement,” Chitwood wrote. “However, over the past several days I’ve watched him head down a path I just can’t follow.”
Chitwood said he respects Fine’s fight for his faith and his beliefs, but had to “part ways when that fight turns into an attack on our Muslim neighbors.”
“All I can do today is look forward. I appreciate the good work Rep. Fine has done to protect our Jewish neighbors, but as Sheriff I just can’t turn a blind eye to the harm he’s doing to our Muslim community,” Chitwood wrote.
In a statement from Fine that Chitwood shared on his Facebook page, Fine wrote that he respects everything Chitwood has done to keep Volusia County safe, “no matter your religious faith.
“We agree that no one should face discrimination for who they are and that no one should be able to use their faith to force their values on others. We both speak our minds and that’s what friends do,” Fine wrote. “I will always support his work and the job the men and women of the VCSO do day in and day out and look forward to continuing to partner with him as your Congressman.”
