WATCH REPLAY: Palm Bay Council Votes to Ask Gov. DeSantis to Suspend Councilman Chandler Langevin Over Anti-Indian Remarks
By Space Coast Daily // October 3, 2025
Discussion will also include conduct and decorum of City Council
WATCH: The Palm Bay City Council voted 4-1 to request that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis suspend City Councilman Chandler Langevin from office after hearing four hours of public testimony, with dozens of Indian-Americans filling council chambers and an overflow room.
Related Story:Florida Senator Debbie Mayfield Urges Gov. Ron DeSantis to Suspend Palm Bay Councilman Over Anti-Indian Remarks
BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – The Palm Bay City Council voted 4-1 to request that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis suspend City Councilman Chandler Langevin from office after hearing four hours of public testimony, with dozens of Indian-Americans filling council chambers and an overflow room.
Langevin has been facing mounting pressure after a series of social media posts about Indian-Americans. Among them: “Indian migration has to cease immediately,” “There is not a single Indian that cares about the United States,” and “Deport every Indian immediately.”
The remarks drew swift condemnation from community members, advocacy groups, and elected officials. Senator Debbie Mayfield, R-Melbourne, earlier this week called the comments “inexcusable for an elected official.”
Langevin, who was elected in November, attempted to clarify his position before the council meeting.
In a post shared before the session, he wrote: “In Brevard County and in other parts of Florida we have great patriotic Americans that happen to be of Indian heritage. I personally consider them Americans and my comments were not directed at them.”
Still, Langevin doubled down on his criticisms of U.S. immigration policy, particularly the H1-B visa program, which allows U.S. employers to hire highly skilled foreign workers, many from India. “I stand by comments in regard to all forms of illegal immigration,” Langevin said, adding that “the H1-B visa is one of these and made up of predominantly Indian immigrants.”
Despite his clarification, Langevin continued to escalate his rhetoric on social media. Earlier this week, he reposted a message stating: “INDIA is having its people INVADE OUR COUNTRY, and is actively PAYING PEOPLE to try to SHUT THE PUBLIC UP.”
In addition to the council’s action, Odyssey Charter School in Palm Bay removed Langevin from its board of directors.
The City Council’s vote directs the city attorney to draft a formal letter to DeSantis, asking him to suspend Langevin from office.
