U.S. Representative Cory Mills (R-FL) is projected to lose the Republican primary for his Florida House seat to former television reporter Ryan Elijah. Decision Desk HQ reported the projection Tuesday night, indicating that the incumbent failed to secure the nomination against Elijah and two other Republican challengers.
The primary loss occurred while Mills was the subject of an investigation by the House Ethics Committee. The probe involves allegations of dating violence and potential violations of campaign finance laws. Mills has faced public calls for his resignation or expulsion from Congress from members of both the Democratic and Republican parties during the course of the investigation.
Ryan Elijah secured the victory with the support of two of Mills's colleagues from the Florida Republican delegation, Reps. Mike Haridopolos and Anna Paulina Luna. Elijah will now advance to the general election to face Democratic nominee Bale Dalton, a Navy veteran and former NASA chief of staff. The Cook Political Report and Decision Desk HQ currently categorize the district as likely to remain under Republican control.
The scale of this event is measured by its impact on national political alignments. Mills is the latest of several candidates endorsed by Donald Trump to lose a primary in recent weeks, following similar outcomes in House races in Michigan and Tennessee. This trend highlights shifting dynamics within Republican primary electorates regarding the influence of national endorsements versus local controversies. The allegations against Mills include a restraining order for harassment granted to an ex-girlfriend last fall and a February 2025 incident involving reported physical marks, though no criminal charges were filed.
Voters in the district will see a new Republican name on the ballot in November alongside Bale Dalton, who has received support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and state leaders like former Sen. Bill Nelson. The outcome of the Ethics Committee investigation remains a factor for the remainder of Mills’s current term, though he will no longer serve in the next Congress. The general election, which will determine the final representation for the district, is scheduled for November 2026.