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Republican Rep. Cory Mills of Florida has lost his congressional primary, becoming the latest incumbent to fall amid a mounting pile of ethics complaints, federal investigations, and allegations of personal misconduct — even after securing the endorsement of President Donald Trump.
Former television journalist Ryan Elijah captured the Republican nomination for Florida's 7th Congressional District, with more than 80% of the expected vote counted showing Elijah at 46% to Mills' 34%, according to NBC News. The district — which Trump carried by 12 points in 2024 — was considered safely Republican, but Mills' scandals had made Democrats hopeful of making it competitive in the fall.
Mills is facing a House Ethics Committee probe into allegations of sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations, as well as a separate Justice Department investigation into his personal finances. He has denied wrongdoing. But the dual investigations proved too much to overcome — even with the sitting president in his corner.
The loss underscores the limits of a Trump endorsement when an incumbent is carrying serious ethical baggage. Mills is the second Republican to lose a primary this cycle despite Trump's backing, joining Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee, who also fell short earlier this month, according to NBC News.
Elijah's campaign was backed by a notable coalition of Florida Republicans who either directly or indirectly signaled their concerns about Mills. Republican Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos took the rare step of endorsing against a sitting House colleague, issuing a statement that emphasized integrity over incumbency. "We need leaders in Congress who serve with integrity, energy, and an unwavering commitment to the people who sent them there," they wrote.
Mills, an Army veteran who had worked as a military contractor before winning his seat in 2022, struggled badly on the fundraising front. He raised less than $900,000 through late July — roughly half what a typical House member seeking re-election pulls in — though still twice what Elijah raised during the same period, according to an NBC News analysis of campaign finance data. Money alone clearly wasn't the deciding factor.
Mills is the 11th House member — seven Democrats and four Republicans — to lose a primary this cycle, an unusually high number that reflects a broader wave of incumbent vulnerability driven by scandal, intraparty divisions, and voter frustration. His defeat now hands Republicans a competitive race in a district that should have been an easy hold — a self-inflicted wound the party will be working to repair heading into November.
