Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) has been swiftly ousted from Congress following a decisive primary loss in Florida’s 7th Congressional District. Polls closed Tuesday with nearly 94% of votes counted, confirming challenger Ryan Elijah’s victory over Mills with 47% to Mills’ 34.3%. The result marked a stark reversal for Mills, who had secured re-election in both 2022 and 2024 with comfortable margins of 15 points and 13 points, respectively.
Mills’ campaign collapsed amid mounting evidence of misconduct. Federal authorities have launched a criminal investigation into his finances, while he faces multiple allegations including stolen valor, conversion to Islam, meetings with a Syrian leader previously designated a terrorist, and threats involving revenge porn against a beauty queen. A Florida judge granted Lindsey Langston, then Miss United States, a restraining order after Mills allegedly bombarded her with threatening messages following their breakup in February 2025.
The defeat followed warnings from Victory Insights that Mills’ polling numbers were “extremely concerning” and a public statement from Governor Ron DeSantis declaring he neither endorsed nor supported Mills. With no immediate response from either campaign, the loss underscores the intensity of Mills’ scandals—many first reported by Blaze News—which have repeatedly undermined his political standing. Elijah will now face Florida Democrat Bale Dalton in November’s general election.
