SANFORD, Fla. — Republican congressional candidate Ryan Elijah has secured endorsements from Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma and Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, giving the former television anchor support from two of Central Florida’s most prominent law-enforcement leaders as he challenges incumbent U.S. Rep. Cory Mills.
Elijah announced Lemma’s endorsement on July 22, two days after Chitwood publicly backed his campaign in Florida’s 7th Congressional District Republican primary.
Together, the endorsements give Elijah support from the elected sheriffs representing the two counties within the district, which includes Seminole County and southern Volusia County.
“So honored to have the endorsement of Sheriff Dennis Lemma,” Elijah wrote. “He is not only a tremendous leader in Seminole County, but a national leader on addressing the opioid crisis. I look forward to working with him to address the needs in Seminole County.”
Elijah’s campaign posted a video announcing Lemma’s support and now features both sheriffs prominently on its endorsement page.
Chitwood cites Elijah’s integrity
Chitwood endorsed Elijah in a campaign video released July 20, emphasizing the former Fox 35 anchor’s relationship with local law enforcement and familiarity with the district.
“I’ve worked with Ryan for years,” Chitwood said. “He is pro-law enforcement. He is meticulous when it comes to doing his job and best of all, he’s a man of integrity—and that’s what we need in this district.”
Elijah said he was honored to receive the endorsement and praised Chitwood’s leadership in Volusia County.
Although Chitwood is politically independent, rather than a Republican officeholder, the support of two highly recognizable sheriffs remains a significant local development in a Republican primary involving a sitting member of Congress.
Sheriffs frequently maintain substantial public profiles beyond traditional law-enforcement responsibilities, particularly when public safety, immigration, opioids and federal funding are campaign issues.
Local endorsements build for Elijah
Lemma and Chitwood join a growing list of Central Florida officials supporting Elijah.
His campaign also lists endorsements from state Sen. Tom Wright, former Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, Seminole County Commissioner Amy Lockhart and state Rep. Rachel Plakon.
The collection of local endorsements could help Elijah argue that his campaign has deeper institutional support within the district, even as Mills retains the advantages of incumbency and President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
Elijah spent more than a decade as a Fox 35 Orlando anchor before leaving the station in April to enter the congressional race. He has focused his campaign on affordability, health care, public safety and restoring voter confidence in congressional leadership.
Mills emphasizes congressional record
Mills was first elected to Congress in 2022 and won another term in 2024 with 56.5% of the vote. His congressional office says it has recovered more than $107 million for constituents and resolved more than 6,300 cases involving federal agencies.
The Republican incumbent has emphasized his military background, conservative voting record, national-security work and constituent services while seeking another term.
Mills is also facing continued political scrutiny from an ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation. The committee has not announced any findings, and Mills has denied wrongdoing.
He recently dismissed reports of a separate Justice Department investigation as politically motivated and said he had not been notified of any federal inquiry. The Justice Department has not publicly confirmed those reports.
Mills and Elijah are scheduled to participate in an Aug. 5 Republican candidate forum in New Smyrna Beach alongside Sarah Ulrich and Michael Johnson.
The Republican primary will be held Aug. 18.
Why the endorsements matter
Endorsements alone rarely decide congressional primaries, especially against an incumbent carrying presidential support.
However, the decision by the two sheriffs most closely associated with the district to back Elijah gives his campaign a credible argument that prominent local leaders are looking for a change in representation.
Whether that local support can overcome Mills’ national profile and incumbency advantage will become clearer as Republican voters begin returning ballots.
Sources
- Ryan Elijah for Congress — Endorsements
- Office of U.S. Rep. Cory Mills
- Florida Division of Elections — Ryan Elijah Candidate Record
- The Florida Pundit — Cory Mills Denies Reported DOJ Investigation
- The Florida Pundit — Cory Mills and CD-7 Challengers Agree to Debate
