Ryan Elijah, a former local news anchor, won the Republican primary against Florida Rep. Corey Mills on Tuesday, amidst Mills’ controversial situation.
Mills is currently under scrutiny by both the House Ethics Committee and the Department of Justice for various allegations, which include sexual misconduct and issues related to campaign financing. He has been in Congress since January 2023, but now faces an uphill battle after losing his reelection bid.
With 82% of votes counted, Elijah secured 46.9% compared to Mills’ 34.4%, based on reports from the Associated Press.
Two additional Republican candidates, Sarah Ulrich and Michael Johnson, also participated in this primary.
Mills’ defeat can be traced, at least in part, to the fact that President Donald Trump did not mention him in recent endorsements, despite having supported him in the past. It’s notable that other Trump-backed candidates have generally fared well in this election cycle, like Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who triumphed over Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy.
Additionally, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis publicly denied backing Mills. “I don’t support Corey Mills, and I don’t support him,” DeSantis remarked.
Fellow Republican representatives Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopoulos backed Elijah over Mills. Luna expressed on August 5 that, “Ryan is a true patriot and freedom fighter, who will represent our shared values and work hard for our communities.”
In a more personal note, she emphasized that Ryan’s experience and dedication would ensure representation for families in Seminole and Volusia counties.
Back in October 2025, one of Mills’ ex-girlfriends was granted a restraining order, and another alleged an assault in February 2025, although that charge was later retracted.
In 2025, Representative Nancy Mace from South Carolina introduced a resolution to censure Mills for his conduct, but the House opted to refer the matter to the Ethics Committee instead. Reports indicate that the Justice Department started its investigation into Mills’ financial activities in July, which was just before the primary elections. Mills has denied all allegations, and the Justice Department has not confirmed the status of the inquiry.
House Speaker Mike Johnson stated in April that he was looking into Mills’ ongoing ethics issues.
Elijah ran his campaign focusing on key issues like reducing gas and healthcare costs, advocating for religious freedom, upholding law enforcement, and addressing illegal immigration concerns. He also supported the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act.
Mills touted himself as the sole candidate in the district backed by Trump. “I am honored to be the only candidate endorsed by President Donald J. Trump in Florida’s 7th Congressional District,” he declared in a post on July 31.
While campaigning, Mills encountered difficulties in securing campaign funding, and Democrats have been eyeing the seat as a potential pickup in the upcoming November elections. Notably, Trump previously won the same district by a 12-point margin in the 2024 presidential election.
In other political developments, North Carolina’s Representative Chuck Edwards abandoned his reelection efforts after the House Ethics Committee found him guilty of inappropriate behavior with two staff members, while Ohio’s Representative Max Miller faced calls to step down due to domestic violence accusations.
The House Ethics Committee is also conducting an investigation into California Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez over allegations of sexual misconduct.
