Florida Rep Mills Elijah Defeats Incumbent in Controversial Primary
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Elijah’s win comes after Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) and Mike Haridopolos (R-FL) endorsed against the incumbent, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared he was not supporting Mills.
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NBC NewsElijah ran with support from a slew of prominent Florida Republicans who have either directly or indirectly referenced Mills’ woes. Republican Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos took the rare step of endorsing against a House colleague, putting out a statement that emphasized Elijah’s character.
The Daily WireMills, a two-term incumbent, faced Elijah, a former television journalist; businesswoman Sarah Ulrich; and veteran Michael Don Johnson in the GOP primary. With roughly 84% of the vote reported, Elijah led with 46.9% of the vote, followed by Mills with 34.4%, according to preliminary results. Decision Desk HQ called the race at 7:53 p.m. ET.
Fox NewsEarlier this month, Reps. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., and Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., announced they were also endorsing Elijah over Mills in a race for the seat in their home state.
NPR NewsMills' campaign website shows the endorsements of about a dozen House Republicans. Meanwhile, his main GOP challenger, former local television news anchor Ryan Elijah, has been endorsed by Florida GOP Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos. Also running in the GOP primary are real estate agent Sarah Ulrich and U.S. Army veteran and Department of Defense employee Michael Don Johnson.
New York PostElijah, the former host of “Good Day Orlando” and “Orlando Matters,” led Mills by double digits — 46.9% to 34.4% — when the race was called by the Associated Press.
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Unlike other incumbents who have fallen short this year for being on the wrong side of intraparty divides, Mills’ defeat comes as he’s been dogged by multiple investigations, including a House Ethics Committee probe into sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations, as well as a Justice Department investigation into his finances. Mills has denied wrongdoing.
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The HillTrump-endorsed Mills loses primary in Florida amid House Ethics probe Republican Rep. Cory Mills is projected to lose his Florida, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ), marking a setback for President Trump, who endorsed his reelection bid. Ryan Elijah, a former TV reporter, defeated the incumbent and two other GOP challengers with the support of two of Mills’s Florida House Republican colleagues — Reps. Mike…
NPR NewsMills is the latest lawmaker in a recent string of congressional members facing scandals and allegations of domestic abuse while running for elected office. The House Ethics Committee opened an investigation earlier this year into allegations that Mills assaulted a former girlfriend and also violated campaign finance laws.
New York TimesCory Mills Loses Republican Primary Amid Assault Allegations and Ethics Investigation Mr. Mills, who is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee and has faced allegations of assault and threatening behavior toward women, lost to Ryan Elijah, a former TV news anchor.
Fox NewsRep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., lost his bid for a third term representing the Sunshine State's 7th Congressional District as a House Ethics Committee investigation and alleged federal probe weighed down his candidacy.
The Daily WireLast November, lawmakers on the House Ethics Committee launched an investigation into Mills over allegations including possible domestic violence and campaign finance violations. The Department of Justice opened a criminal probe into Mills last month in connection with his finances. Mills has denied the allegations and argued that they are politically motivated.
Washington ExaminerPresident Donald Trump endorsed the embattled congressman at the beginning of this year, but has recently steered clear of Mills. The president has issued repeated endorsements for Florida candidates on social media ahead of the primary, but left Mills out of the mix.
New York PostPresident Trump had endorsed Mills in the race but notably did not re-up the endorsement on Truth Social in recent days as he did with several other GOP candidates in Florida. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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The scandals around Mills have muddied Republicans' clear chance of winning and keeping the seat. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report, which tracks races, moved Mills' district from the "solid red" column to the less certain "likely red."
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Washington ExaminerMills’s loss comes after he had a dip in the polls last week, despite his moderate lead earlier this month. He was running for a third term for a seat that Democrats had labeled as “in play” amid his slew of allegations. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report had shifted the seat from “likely Republican” to “lean Republican.”
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But with Mills and his baggage out of the race, Democrats’ chances to flip the seat slim drastically. Elijah will face Bale Dalton after Dalton won the Democratic primary in Tuesday’s election.
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The Daily WireElijah will now face Democratic nominee Bale Dalton in November. Democrats have identified the district as a potential pickup opportunity, although the heavily Republican seat remains expected to favor the GOP.
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Former television journalist Ryan Elijah captured the Republican nomination over Mills in Florida’s 7th District, a seat Trump carried by 12 points in 2024. Democrats have hoped to make it competitive this fall, especially if Mills was on the ballot.
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The Daily WireRyan Elijah emerged victorious Tuesday in the Republican primary for Florida’s 7th Congressional District, as a series of controversies sinks incumbent Cory Mills’ attempt at re-election.
5 details only one outlet reported
Independent claims that didn't surface elsewhere in our corpus. Treat as supplementary — not corroborated across outlets.
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01 Washington Examiner “We need leaders in Congress who serve with integrity, energy, and an unwavering commitment to the people who sent them there,” the two Florida Republicans wrote. “Ryan Elijah is that leader. We are confident he will represent our shared values with distinction and deliver results for the families of Seminole and Volusia Counties. We wholeheartedly endorse Ryan Elijah and urge our fellow Republicans to join us in supporting him.”
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02 Fox News The winner in the race was Ryan Elijah, a former Orlando-area news anchor for FOX 35 and a one-time NFL sideline reporter who.
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03 NBC News Mills is the 11th House member to lose a primary so far this year, an unusually high number. Seven Democrats and four Republicans have lost their bids for renomination.
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04 NPR News NPR reached out to Mills' office for a response to those allegations but did not hear back. He has previously denied any wrongdoing.
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05 The Daily Wire Decision Desk HQ projects Ryan Elijah wins the Florida US House 7 Republican Primary#DecisionMade: 7:53 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/TvJjVyAgSK
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