DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Ryan Elijah defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Cory Mills Tuesday in the Republican primary for Florida’s 7th Congressional District, ending Mills’ bid for a third term after a contentious campaign that drew national attention.
The Associated Press called the race for Elijah Tuesday night. At the time of the call, Elijah was leading Mills by double digits, approximately 46.9% to 34.4%, according to results reported by national media.
Elijah, a former Central Florida television news reporter and anchor, entered Election Day with momentum after consolidating support from several prominent Florida Republicans and benefiting from growing political opposition to Mills.
The victory represents a significant upset of a sitting Republican congressman in a district Mills had represented since 2023.
The result came hours after Florida’s CD-7 Republican primary drew national attention as Mills faced an increasingly competitive challenge.
Mills had won reelection in 2024 with approximately 56.5% of the vote.
Late Poll Foreshadowed Elijah Victory
Elijah’s victory came after a dramatic shift in polling during the closing days of the campaign.
A Capital Strategic Partners survey conducted Aug. 14-15 showed Elijah receiving 44% support among likely Republican primary voters compared with 27% for Mills.
That represented a major change from surveys earlier in August that showed Mills leading while roughly four in 10 Republican voters remained undecided.
The Florida Pundit reported earlier Tuesday that the race had drawn attention from national outlets as questions grew over whether Mills could survive the primary.
The late Capital Strategic Partners poll ultimately pointed in the direction of Tuesday night’s result, with Elijah establishing a double-digit advantage over the incumbent when the AP called the contest.
Republican Support Shifted Away From Mills
Elijah’s challenge gained momentum as prominent Florida Republicans increasingly distanced themselves from Mills.
Gov. Ron DeSantis publicly declared last week that he did not support the congressman.
“I have not endorsed Cory Mills, and I do not support Cory Mills,” DeSantis said.
Elijah also received endorsements from Republican U.S. Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos, as well as Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma and Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
President Donald Trump had previously endorsed Mills, but the president did not include the congressman in a recent series of renewed endorsements for Florida Republican candidates ahead of Tuesday’s primary.
Elijah had questioned the strength of Trump’s backing of Mills during the campaign’s closing days.
Elijah also received endorsements from Republican U.S. Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos, as well as Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma and Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
Mills continued to describe himself during the campaign as Trump’s endorsed candidate, and there had been no public announcement formally rescinding the earlier endorsement. National coverage of Tuesday’s result also noted the absence of renewed Trump support in the closing days.
Ethics Scrutiny Followed Mills Into Primary
Mills entered the election facing months of scrutiny over allegations involving his personal conduct and congressional ethics.
The House Ethics Committee has been examining allegations involving the congressman. Mills has denied wrongdoing and pushed back against allegations made against him.
Mills had also denied reports of a Justice Department investigation as a House Ethics Committee probe continued.
The controversy became a significant issue in the Republican primary and contributed to increasing political pressure on the incumbent.
National outlets including Axios cited the ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation and the erosion of support among Florida Republicans as important context surrounding Mills’ defeat Tuesday.
Elijah and other challengers repeatedly argued that Republicans risked losing the congressional seat if Mills remained the party’s nominee.
Elijah Advances to November
Elijah will now advance to the Nov. 3 general election as the Republican nominee for Florida’s 7th Congressional District.
The district includes Seminole County and southern Volusia County and has generally favored Republicans in recent federal elections.
Mills first won the congressional seat in 2022 and was reelected in 2024.
Under Florida’s 2026 congressional map, the district would have favored Donald Trump by roughly 12 percentage points based on the 2024 presidential results, giving Republicans an advantage heading into November.
Democrats nevertheless have identified the district as a potential pickup opportunity. Axios reported Tuesday night that Democrats viewed CD-7 as competitive but had preferred the prospect of facing Mills in the general election.
Elijah will now advance to the Nov. 3 general election as the Republican nominee as Florida’s 2026 election cycle moves into the general-election phase.
For Elijah, Tuesday’s victory completes a rapid rise from political newcomer to Republican congressional nominee.
For Mills, the result brings his bid for a third term in Congress to an end.
This is a developing story and will be updated as additional election results and candidate statements become available.
Related Coverage
Florida CD-7 Draws National Attention as Cory Mills Faces Primary Challenge
Ryan Elijah Questions Cory Mills’ Trump Backing as Florida Primary Nears
Two Central Florida Sheriffs Back Ryan Elijah Against Cory Mills
Cory Mills Denies Reports of DOJ Investigation as Florida Congressman Seeks Re-Election
