Ryan Elijah defeated incumbent Rep. Cory Mills in the Republican primary for Florida's 7th Congressional District on Tuesday, according to a projection by The Associated Press. Mills, who was serving his second term and had received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, lost the nomination while facing an ongoing investigation by the House Ethics Committee.
The House Ethics Committee is currently examining whether Mills violated campaign finance laws, misused congressional resources, or improperly received gifts or favors. The investigation follows a series of personal allegations, including a restraining order granted to a former girlfriend last year after she accused Mills of threatening to release nude photos of her. Police also investigated a separate 2023 report of physical assault involving another woman, though no charges were filed in that case. Mills has denied all allegations of wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crime.
Financial reports from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) indicated that Mills struggled with fundraising leading up to the primary, reporting less than $70,000 in cash on hand. In contrast, Elijah reported more than $186,000, and Democratic candidate Bale Dalton reported more than $475,000. During the campaign, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stated he did not support Mills, and two Florida Republican colleagues, Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos, endorsed Elijah.
The scale of the financial disparity in this race is significant for a congressional primary. Elijah entered the final stretch with nearly three times the cash on hand as Mills—approximately $186,000 compared to $70,000. However, both Republican totals are currently surpassed by the Democratic nominee, Bale Dalton, who holds more than $475,000. This suggests that the general election may involve a substantial increase in political spending and advertising reaching households across the district as the parties compete for the seat.
The transition from Mills to Elijah as the Republican nominee changes the dynamics of the general election. While the University of Virginia's Center for Politics rates the seat as "likely Republican," Democratic strategists had viewed the district as a potential pickup opportunity if Mills had remained the candidate. The general election will determine whether the district stays in Republican control or flips to Democratic representation. Following this primary victory, Elijah will proceed to face Dalton in the general election in November.