Trump-Backed Rep. Cory Mills Loses Florida Primary Amid Scandals

Republican Rep. Cory Mills lost his primary race in Florida’s 7th Congressional District on Tuesday, August 18, despite backing from President Donald Trump. Former FOX 35 news anchor Ryan Elijah defeated Mills with 46% of the vote to Mills’ 34%, with over 80% of ballots counted. Mills faced a House Ethics Committee investigation into sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations, plus a Department of Justice probe into his finances. Mills has denied all wrongdoing.

How Mills’ scandals derailed his reelection

Mills faced multiple investigations that plagued his campaign. In October 2024, a judge issued an injunction against Mills after his former girlfriend Lindsay Langston accused him of threatening to release explicit videos of her. The judge found Mills caused “substantial emotional distress” and wrote that he did not find Mills’ “testimony concerning the intimate videos to be truthful.” In February 2025, D.C. police responded to an assault report involving Mills and a woman he was dating. The woman later retracted her account and police did not charge him.

House Ethics Committee and DOJ investigations

The House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into Mills in November 2025, examining allegations of sexual misconduct and potential omissions or misrepresentations in his financial disclosure statements. Mills has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. A separate Department of Justice investigation into his finances also weighed on his candidacy. The investigations did not result in charges but damaged his political standing heading into the primary.

Republican leaders abandoned Mills despite Trump’s support

Multiple Republican colleagues endorsed Elijah over Mills, a rare move against a House incumbent. Republican Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos released a statement emphasizing Elijah’s character, writing “We need leaders in Congress who serve with integrity, energy, and an unwavering commitment to the people who sent them there.” Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., led a failed bipartisan effort to censure Mills and also endorsed Elijah. Trump endorsed Mills in February but did not mention him in recent Florida endorsements.

Elijah’s path to victory and Mills’ fundraising struggles

Elijah, a former NFL sideline reporter and host of FOX 35’s “Orlando Matters” weekly show, ran with strong support from Florida Republicans. Mills struggled to raise money, pulling in less than $900,000 through late July, roughly half of what he typically raised. Elijah had 44% support in late polling while Mills had 27%, with 19% undecided. Mills is the 11th House member to lose a primary in 2026, and the second Trump-endorsed candidate to fall in a GOP primary this month after Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee.

Final Thoughts

Mills’ loss demonstrates that even Trump’s endorsement cannot overcome multiple serious investigations and allegations. Voters in a Republican district chose a fresh candidate with no scandals, signaling that party backing alone no longer guarantees survival in a primary.

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