Republican Representative Randy Fine of Florida drew criticism after making unsubstantiated allegations about election fraud during a Newsmax interview on June 8, 2026.

Commenting on the ongoing ballot counting process in California following the Los Angeles mayoral primary, Fine suggested that individuals could search through garbage containers, find ballots, and submit them long after Election Day.

He argued that such practices should be stopped and that those responsible should face criminal penalties, although he did not provide any evidence to support his claims.

Fine's remarks came amid Republican frustration over the Los Angeles mayoral race, where Republican candidate and former reality television personality Spencer Pratt fell to third place behind incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmember Nithya Raman, eliminating him from the runoff election.The comments quickly generated criticism online.

Kate Starbird, a professor at the University of Washington and an expert on online rumors and misinformation, described the allegation as an extension of longstanding and unsupported claims about ballots being found in dumpsters.She argued that the scenario ignored practical and structural safeguards in the election system and lacked any supporting evidence.Journalist Aaron Rupar also mocked the claim on social media, while other commentators criticized Fine for making accusations without proof.California Governor Gavin Newsom's press office joined the criticism by posting a graphic on social media that ridiculed the allegation.

The controversy highlights ongoing political disputes over election administration and ballot-counting procedures, particularly in states such as California where vote counting can continue for days after an election due to mail-in and provisional ballot processing requirements.