Florida’s 6th congressional district extends from south of St. Augustine down to South Daytona, and it reaches inland to the southwest toward the outskirts of Ocala, Leesburg and Sanford.
Here are some details about the candidates in the primary race, with information taken from their campaign websites and social media posts:
Republicans
Manuel P. Asensio
Background: A St. Augustine resident, investor and founder of Asensio & Company, Asensio is recognized as a pioneer in activist short sales and is the author of “Sold Short.”
Core philosophy: Positions himself as a fighter of institutionalized corruption and a champion of freedom of religion, the press, and speech rights.
Key platform priorities: Exposing and ending corruption to protect the U.S. Constitution. He advocates for strict “America First” policies.
Aaron Baker
Background: Born in Lakeland with a background working on political campaigns.
Core philosophy: A conservative focused on deregulation, reducing government burdens on families and returning power to states and local communities.
Key platform priorities: Economic recovery through energy deregulation and replacing current tax systems with a FAIR tax; education reform, including abolishing the U.S. Department of Education and promoting school choice; and an “all of the above” energy strategy to lower inflation.
Dan Bilzerian
Background: Social media personality, podcaster and self-described poker player known for his flashy lifestyle.
Core philosophy: His entrance into the race has been characterized as a highly controversial internet-based campaign.
Key platform priorities: He has a rooting-out-the-deep-state focus with a far-right agenda, much of it controversial.
Randy Fine
Background: The Republican incumbent was elected to represent District 6 in an April 2025 special election. A former gambling industry executive and Harvard graduate, he previously served eight years in the Florida House and briefly in the Florida Senate.
Core philosophy: A staunch conservative advocate focused on school choice, tough immigration enforcement and protecting children from harmful ideologies.
Key platform priorities: Strong border enforcement, combating terrorism, and fighting antisemitism. He was nicknamed “The Hebrew Hammer” during his time in the Florida Legislature and has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
Charles Gambaro
Background: A brigadier general in the U.S. Army Reserve with combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, former service in the Trump Administration, and currently a Palm Coast Councilman.
Core philosophy: Emphasizes his proven leadership and experience as an “America-First Conservative” who puts Floridians first, contrasting his local, real-world military service with career politics.
Key platform priorities: Securing borders, keeping America out of new wars, providing economic relief through tax cuts and slashed government spending, and unleashing American energy production.
Democratic candidates
Robert David Cooper II
Background: U.S. Marine Corps veteran, CEO and Co-Founder of Zero Hour Life Center, an addiction recovery organization. He also serves as Board Chair of Langley Health Services and holds a degree in Human Services.
Core philosophy: A “people over politics” approach. Cooper believes government should be accountable, responsive, and present in the communities it serves, leveraging his addiction recovery experience to help others.
Key platform priorities: Lowering everyday costs, expanding access to healthcare and affordable housing, improving veteran services, and ensuring economic stability for working families.
Steve Morgan
Background: A Palm Coast resident and the owner/brewer of Alcatraz Brewing. A first-time political candidate, he holds degrees from Duke University, the University of Tennessee College of Law and UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.
Core philosophy: Running as a fiscally conservative Democrat, Morgan emphasizes practical problem-solving for everyday families over strict party politics.
Key platform priorities: Addressing the high cost of living (including housing, insurance, groceries and utilities), expanding affordable housing, lowering prescription drug prices, and protecting Social Security, Medicare and veteran services.
Ronnie ‘Ron’ Murchinson-Rivera
Background: Murchinson-Revera has served more than 15 years in EMS and currently works in law enforcement. He holds degrees from Seminole State College and Liberty University.
Core philosophy: He focuses on bringing real-life frontline experience, not insider politics, to Washington and believes the government should work for working people.
Key platform priorities: Public safety (community-focused policing, funding for first responders), protecting Medicare and Medicaid, making healthcare affordable and defending civil rights and voting access.
Eric Yonce
Background: Born in South Florida and raised in Citra, in District 6, Yonce spent more than 20 years in big-box retail leadership before launching a small business remodeling vintage Airstreams. In 2022, he thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail.
Core philosophy: Positions himself as a neighbor and builder, not a career politician. Focuses on delivering results and true representation over special interests.
Key platform priorities: Smart growth policies and responsible development to protect Florida’s environment and waterways; making housing, healthcare and childcare more affordable; and strengthening local infrastructure.
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Election preview: Who’s on the primary ballot for U.S. Representative, 6th District?
Reporting by Julie Garisto, Leesburg Daily Commercial / Daily Commercial
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Julie Garisto, Leesburg Daily Commercial | USA TODAY Network
