Florida Republican incumbent Cory Mills loses primary amid ethics investigation
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Incumbent Rep. Cory Mills was defeated in the Republican primary for Florida's 7th congressional district, trailing former news anchor Ryan Elijah by about 12 points as an ethics probe and domestic-abuse allegations weighed on his campaign.
Incumbent Republican Rep. Cory Mills was defeated in the primary for Florida’s 7th congressional district, with former local television news anchor Ryan Elijah winning by roughly 12 percentage points, according to an Associated Press call. Mills, seeking a third term, faced an ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation into alleged assault of a former girlfriend and possible campaign-finance violations. He has denied any wrongdoing, and his office did not respond to requests for comment.
Mills’ campaign material highlighted a “Trump Endorsed” label, and President Donald Trump endorsed him in February, though the endorsement was not prominently featured in later social-media posts. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said, "I have not endorsed Cory Mills, and I do not support Cory Mills."
Elijah, who secured endorsements from Florida GOP representatives Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos, will face Democrat Bale Dalton, a Navy veteran and former NASA chief of staff backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, in the general election. The district, which stretches from the northern Orlando suburbs to the coast south of Daytona Beach, was previously rated as a solid Republican seat but has been reclassified as “likely Republican” by the Cook Political Report following the primary outcome.
Local voters expressed mixed views. One voter praised Mills for delivering funds and addressing district issues, while another cited his “baggage” and doubted his electability in a general-election contest.