Embattled Republican Representative Cory Mills lost his bid for a third term in Florida’s 7th Congressional District primary on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. Facing an ethics investigation and sliding support among GOP colleagues, Mills was defeated by former television news anchor Ryan Elijah in the central Florida race.
Florida Republican incumbent Representative Cory Mills lost his primary race in the state’s 7th Congressional District, according to a race call by The Associated Press reported by NPR. Running for his third term, Mills fell to his main Republican challenger, former local television news anchor Ryan Elijah.
Scandals, Investigations, and Loss of Party Backing
Mills is part of a recent string of congressional lawmakers facing allegations of misconduct while running for office. Mills has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Although Mills prominently featured “Trump Endorsed” on his campaign signs, and President Donald Trump did endorse him in February, Trump left Mills off a number of endorsements posted on social media leading up to the primary election. Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis also distanced himself from the incumbent, stating bluntly last week, I have not endorsed Cory Mills, and I do not support Cory Mills
.
Tensions within the GOP spilled into public view when fellow Florida Republican Representatives Mike Haridopolos and Anna Paulina Luna crossed party lines against the incumbent to endorse Elijah instead. Haridopolos told Fox News Digital that Elijah is an excellent candidate who will ensure victory for Republicans in the district. Alongside the House Ethics Committee inquiry, a source told Fox News Digital that Mills has also faced scrutiny from the Department of Justice, though Mills dismissed reports of a DOJ investigation as a desperate lie by his opponents.
Central Florida District Dynamics and Voter Sentiment
The 7th Congressional District stretches across central Florida from the northern suburbs of Orlando to the coast south of Daytona Beach, encompassing Sanford at its heart. The boundaries remain unchanged since Florida redrew its maps in May. The district has divided local voters over whether Mills’ legislative record outweighs his personal controversies.
Voter Patrick Austin, who cast his ballot in Sanford, backed the incumbent. He delivers for our district,
Austin said. He’s brought a lot of money. He’s fixed a lot of issues that we needed — that’s all I want.
Other constituents expressed concern that Mills carried too much political liability for the general election. Voter Tiffany Davis voiced worries about the incumbent’s viability against a Democratic challenger, noting, I think Cory Mills is going to get beat, honestly, if it comes to a Democrat, and I just don’t think I can chance it. I think he has a lot of issues. I think he was a good guy, but he has too many issues right now.
General Election Stakes and the National Landscape
The controversies surrounding Mills have altered the political calculus for a seat Republicans previously viewed as safely in their column. Citing the incumbent’s vulnerabilities, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report moved the district from the solid Republican column to the less certain likely Republican
category. Democrats consider the seat competitive and are directing resources toward flipping it in November.
The race in central Florida mirrors broader turmoil for House Republicans trying to maintain their majority. Other high-profile GOP lawmakers facing misconduct allegations include Representative Chuck Edwards of North Carolina, who dropped his reelection bid after sexual harassment accusations, and Representative Max Miller of Ohio, who faces domestic abuse allegations from his ex-wife and former father-in-law, Senator Bernie Moreno. All three seats have landed on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee target list as Democrats pour money into the contests.
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